Southern Gaming and Destinations: March/April 2015 by Gaming and Destinations

2015 casino slot guide March/april 2015 Vol. 17, Issue 2 SOUTHERNGAMING.COM

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LETTER

from the Publisher

Up front with G. Douglas

Publisher

Bisig Impact Group Chief Executive Officer

Larry Bisig President & Creative Director

table games. It’sust the player, the machine and new expectations with every play. With so many machines to choose from, manufacturers are more pressed than ever to produce products that will pique your interest. They have to offer catchy graphics with recognizable themes that appeal to a wide audience. This issue is designed to show you some of the hottest slots you can find on casino floors throughout the South. Slot expert and long-time Southern Gaming contributor John Grochowski has plucked his top selections from an array of manufacturers and outlined them on page 8. Be sure to check them out on your next casino visit and let us know what you think. The world of slot machines is always changing. When Charles Fey invented the first machine in 1895, The Liberty Bell, I am sure he never imagined it evolving into what it is today. The machine had three reels and each reel had ten symbols printed on it (horseshoes, spades, diamonds, hearts and bells) with a top-paying prize of $5 when the player lined up three bells. It was a basic machine where the player would insert a coin and pull the handle or arm and the wheels would begin spinning. It was also the first game of its kind to pay out real coins. Earlier games would pay out with prizes such as cigars. Today’s machines are much different. Walk into any casino and you will find hundreds of variations of games boasting touch screen displays, surround sound features and themes ranging from movies and shows to cartoons and music artists. But something that hasn’t changed are the expectations of the player. I would venture to say that slot players in the late 1800s put those coins in The Liberty Bell thinking every spin would be The One that would land on the three bells and grant them the jackpot. Well, today, every time those wheels start spinning, I know that I think, hope and pray that this is The One. While today’s top jackpots offer life-changing amounts and a much lower house edge, the core philosophy of the game is the same. There isn’t much strategy. There isn’t human interaction such as you experience in 2

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Also in this issue, we highlight travel tips from travel af icionado Cindy Lamb. The article provides dos and don’ts to consider to make your next travel adventure more enjoyable. And as if you really needed another excuse for a road trip, we highlight a few of our favorite festivals and concerts to consider for the coming warmer months. Enjoy! Last but not least, if you haven’t signed up for The Comps Club™ by Southern Gaming yet, what are you waiting for? For just $29 per year, members receive six Member Coupon Paks with comps and special discounts to casinos throughout the South and six issues of Southern Gaming magazine! What a deal! Go to thecompsclub.com to sign up and start winning today. Enjoy the issue and I hope your next spin is The One. If you can’t be good, be lucky!

G. Douglas Dreisbach

General M anager

Chip Dumstorf General Manager

G. Douglas Dreisbach Managing editor

Joseph Grove Associate Editor

Lauren Reisdorf Accounting

Peggy Harris Contributing Authors

James Bickers Erica Block Linda Boyd Eric Floyd John Grochowski Phil Hellmuth, Jr. Cindy Lamb Lauren Reisdorf Molly Jo Rosen Frank Scoblete Brooke Edwards Staggs Henry Tamburin Letters to the editor, address changes and other correspondence should be sent to: Southern Gaming and Destinations

640 South Fourth Street Louisville, Kentucky 40202 (502) 583-0333 Fax (502) 583-6487 e-mail: editor@southerngaming.com The goal of this publication is to help drive awareness of the evergrowing popularity of the gaming industry and to assist the gamer in enjoying their gaming experience to the fullest. Southern Gaming and Destinations is published for those who seek the best in gaming and in life, and is produced bimonthly by Bisig Impact Group of Louisville, Kentucky. Copyright 2014 by Bisig Impact Group. All Rights Reserved. This publication is printed by Publisher’s Printing Co., Inc. of Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Postage is paid in Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. Opinions of columnists are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor does Southern Gaming and Destinations assume liability for claims of advertisers. POSTMASTER: Send

address changes to Southern Gaming and Destinations, 640 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40202.

March/April 2015

ON THE COVER

TIPS & COLUMNS

28 Horseracing

$1 Million TournEvent of Champions Arrive a Winner, Leave a Legend!

Intentional pari-mutuel wagering.

29 Video Poker Bounce back for casino play.

FEATURE ARTICLES

30 Blackjack

31 Craps

Should you tip the dealer?

Hot Slots of 2015

Contents

HIGHLIGHTS & HOTSPOTS 18 Traveling with Baggage Tips for food, Fido and fun!

24 Spring Festivals The South is home to some of the finest festivals in the country.

Back wall hits, luck and the don’t.

A Casino Slot Guide for the hottest games of 2015

32 Poker No Limit hold’em for your home game.

12 Best Slot Floors of the South

What makes a truly great slot floor? These southern casinos have it.

36 A Day In the Life A few strange requests for a hotel concierge.

16 10 Ways to maximize your play

Learn how to get the most out of every penny played.

22 Social Media: Win,

one tweet @ a time If you haven’t jumped on the Social Media bandwagon yet, here’s a great place to start.

26 Tricks for the Triple Crown

There’s a lot to look for when handicapping the most elite races in horseracing.

8 Find us on Facebook

@SouthernGaming SOUTH E R NGAM I NG.COM

Facts & Fun

Did You Know

1 2 Green beer isn’t for everyone. With St. Patty’s day right around the corner, we decided to give you another option. This festive cocktail is easy to make and tastes delicious. Sip on a Shamrocker this year to help you celebrate with our Irish friends to the fullest.

Who invented the first slot machine?

A. Edwin Howard Armstrong B. Tom Parry Jones C. Charles Fey D. Sidney Rosenthal

What was the largest slot machine jackpot ever won? A. $39.7 million B. $27.5 million C. $34.9 million D. $42.6 million

Approximately how many slot machines are operating in the U.S.?

4 5

Approximately how many Americans work in the horse industry? A. 2.1 million B. 4.6 million C. 500,000 D. 5.8 million

What percentage of online adults use social networking sites? A. 48% B. 62% C. 74% D. 85%

1. C-Charles Fey, 2. A-$39.7 Million, 3. D. 833,000, 4. B-4.6 million, 5. C-74%

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A. 500,000 B. 755,000 C. 1,000,000 D. 833,000

The Shamrocker Recipe

Ingredients 1 part Tequila 1 part Melon Liqueur 1/2 part triple sec Splash of Orange Juice

Directions 1. Pour the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. 2. Shake well. 3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. 4. Garnish with an orange slice.

Obama and McConnell will do the drinking. YOU do the choosing.

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The percentage of casino revenue that comes from electronic gaming machines.

$245 9 million million The approximate number of horses in America

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275

1200

The approximate weight of a slot machine (in pounds).

The estimated amount of money spent on beer for St. Patty’s day celebrations around the world.

The average number of individual parts in a slot machine.

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The exciting atmosphere at The National TournEvent of Champions feels a little like being on a game show.

$1 Million TournEvent of Champions ARR I V E A W I NN ER , L E AV E A L E GE N D ! by

athry n McDona ld has always considered herself lucky.

She likes to gamble, and she regularly brings home winnings after a Friday night trip with her coworkers to their hometown Snoqualmie Casino, just outside Seattle. But even she was surprised how far that luck took her a few months ago, when she parlayed a slot tournament win at Snoqualmie Casino into a $200,000 jackpot and the title of best tournament player in the United States. “It was the experience of a lifetime,” said McDonald, who’s already busy with plans to defend her title in 2015. Though major gaming organizations 6|

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B r o o k e E d w a r d s S ta g g s

don’t keep statistics on slot tournaments, casinos and players alike report they are a growing segment of the gaming industry nationwide. That surge is clear in the popularity of the annual National TournEvent of Champions. This series of slot machine tournaments is put on by Multimedia Games, a GCA company, at casinos nationwide throughout the year, with winners from every local event facing off during a final tournament held in Las Vegas each fall. “The prize money, the event—it has become so big,” said Michael Conway, creative director and emcee for the tournament. “It has changed the way these things are done.”

When Multimedia Games first started exploring the idea of a national tournament several years back, Conway said most people still thought of slot machine play as a solitary activity. And the tournaments that were taking place were often clumsy events confined to casinos’ backrooms, with both machines and casinos that didn’t want to work together. His team decided to put tournaments center stage, w ith Conway as the wisecracking host focused on whipping contestants into a frenzy. “This was a totally different experience,” said Conway, who played one of the original “villains” on “Seinfeld.” “It literally is like being on a game show.” The National TournEvent of Champions

began in 2012, with a tour bus traveling to regional competitions in California and Washington. The response was huge, Conway said, with casinos jumping onboard and seeing a boost in revenue, while players wholeheartedly embraced the concept. “I have never had so much fun,” Conway said, sharing stories of families competing together, and a contestant he nicknamed Boom Boom, after he nearly punched through a game’s screen in excitement. The event crowned its first national champion in 2013, with a woman from Grand Casino Mille Lacs in Minnesota taking the title. A total of 88 players from 77 casinos competed in the finals at Lagasse’s Stadium at The Palazzo in Las Vegas for more than $150,000 in cash prizes. Conway got to know many of the players, reading up on their back-stories and interacting with them during the big competition. He was touched to learn about the impact the tournament had made for so many contestants. “A lot of these people have never left their local casino. They’ve never been on a plane before,” Conway said, with some asking whether they needed passports for the trek to Vegas. “These were life-changing events for them.” With the success of the first tournament, more than 230,000 people competed in regional tournaments during the 2014 event. The finals grew to 123 players from 104 casinos. The jackpot grew, too, with players competing for a total purse of $500,000 in cash prizes. And the setting was even more impressive, finishing at Wynn’s swanky XS Nightclub. Though she’d traveled quite a bit and been to Vegas often, winning the 2014 tournament absolutely impacted McDonald’s life, she says. The next day, McDonald’s mother was diagnosed with cancer. Thanks to her win, she was able to take several months off work and travel to Arizona to care for her mom as she underwent surgery and treatments. Her mom is doing wel l now, and McDonald recently returned to work. She’s also driving a new Mercedes and planning a trip for her husband’s 60th birthday, plus she paid off every bill down

Kathryn McDonald was crowned the nation’s top tournament player in 2014 and took home a $200,000 prize.

to her mortgage. “Not owing anybody a dime has got to be the best feeling in the world,” she said. For the 2015 tournament, the slogan is “Arrive a Winner, Leave a Legend.” Austin, Texas-based Multimedia Games is constantly looking for ways to make the tournament more exciting for players, Conway said. The jackpot has doubled again this year, with a $1 million grand prize on the line. Second place will receive $150,000 and third place $50,000, with smaller amounts distributed to the top 10 finishers in the championship round, for a total giveaway of $1.3 million. Each finalist who qualifies to go to Las Vegas not only gets a chance at the big cash prize, but also roundtrip airfare for them and a guest, a four-night luxury hotel stay, $500 for food and “white glove” treatment. “I was treated like royalty,” McDonald said of her October Vegas stay. “I had the best time of my life.” The event this year will also benefit a good cause. Ten percent of all sponsorship dollars, or at least $50,000, will go to Save a Warrior, a nonprofit that supports military members and first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress. More than 60 casinos across the country have already signed on to participate in the tournament this year, from Seneca Niagara Resort in New York to Valley View Casino in California. And many more are expected to join as things get underway, with organizers expecting 100 casinos and some 200 finalists. “It’s caught on,” Conway said. “There was no selling it. It just sold itself.” When it comes to winning tournaments, McDonald believes there’s one key factor.

“I truly believe it’s luck,” she said. “I’ve always been really lucky.” However, some experienced players insist there is some strategy involved. “It’s just having that strong wrist,” said Charles Hicks, who made it the 2014 finals after beating out 400 other competitors to win $1,000 at a regional tournament in Indiana’s French Lick Resort & Casino. “When I was pounding, I think I glanced up, and I was in third place,” Hicks recalled. “There was about a minute, a minute and a half left. So I just tried to give it more and more and more. Then it was over and I said, ‘Who won?’ There was about three or four people standing next to me and they said, ‘You did.’ It was a big surprise.” Hicks said he regularly practices hitting the slots at his hometown casino, to build up his wrist strength and speed and to work on his concentration. He has a couple other routines, though he admits they’re likely more superstition than strategy. Hicks was knocked out in the first round of the 2014 finals, blaming his performance on arthritis triggered by chopping wood. But he still took home $500 and got to take his wife to Vegas for the first time in more than 15 years. “I’m looking forward to trying again this year,” Hicks said, with no plans to chop wood before this year’s tournament.

The 2015 TournEvent of Champions is scheduled for Sept. 30 in Las Vegas. For a list of participating casinos and details on how to get involved, visit TournEventofChampions.com.

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HOT slot SLOTS of 2015 c a si n o

guide 2015

lot machine manufacturers play a perpetual game of “Can you top this?” Each year brings new ways to play, new possible winning combinations, innovative new bonus rounds evermore advanced graphics, sound effects and lighting displays.

In the same game, Aristocrat also steps outside the box with a No Limits feature. Megasymbols of the shows f ive lead characters take up multiple spaces, leaving the potential for the symbol to land partially in the playing field, and partially out of view. When that happens, the field can grow both vertically and horizontally to accommodate the symbol.

This year is no different, and gamemakers are going all out to make sure they have attentiongrabbers you just can’t ignore. Here’s a peek at some of the hottest slots you’ll see in casinos this year.

Cluster Power payoffs keep you in the running till the last reel stops.

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introduce you to some of his new favorites

in the Wonder Wheels line, with three mechanical reels atop the game, used to award credits and launch bonus events. This is the first Wonder Wheels game with four sets of reels on the screen – you can play up to four games at once. Three “Bazinga! ” symbols bring you a wheel spin for credits or to launch a free spin feature based on TV characters Penny, Sheldon or Leonard, or to pick’em bonus based on show elements such as the Scavenger Vortex or the Warlords of Ka’a.. It’s an audio-video treat for fans of the CBS comedy smash.

Why you’ll love it: You get a choice between two versions of a longtime popular favorite.

Why you’ll love it: The innovative new

would like to

Aristocrat Technologies

Having no matching symbols on the leftmost reels doesn’t eliminate your chances at winning. With Cluster Power, you still have a chance right to the end.

John Grochowski

Wicked Winnings Legends

Sons of Anarchy

Aristocrat is using this game, based on the FX television hit drama about an outlaw motorcycle club, their lives and challenges, to introduce a new way to play. With Cluster Power, any three or more adjacent symbols can form a paying combination. Matching symbols can be touching vertically, horizontally, in a line, on the first three reels, in a stack on the last reel alone – as long as you have three or more adjacent, that’s a winner.

Slots expert

The original Wicked Winnings was an immediate success upon its release more than a decade ago, capturing players’ loyalty with its 243-ways-to-win format free spins and, in later versions, the opportunity to win more free spins within the freebies.

The Big Bang Theory

Aristocrat Technologies

Why you’ll love it: Bazinga! The fun of TV’s favorite geeks comes to the slots

Big Bang follows last year’s Batman slots

Wicked Winnings Legends brings together Wicked Winnings II, the game that introduced the free repins to the line, with Wicked Winnings Legends. It includes a new “Wicked” bonus feature along with respins and free games with Sticky Stack, where a stack of wild symbols sticks in place for the next spin, creating the opportunity for more big wins.

Wizard of Oz: Not in Kansas Anymore WMS Gaming

Why you’ll love it: That Kansas cylone brings a new twist to bonus events

The Wizard of Oz license has been very, very good to WMS, and this one has a new twist – or twister. Your road to bonuses and perhaps progressive jackpots come through a “Prognado” – and amalgam of “progressive” and “tornado.” During bonus play, reels swirl around left to right, tornado style, instead of the usual slot reels’ end over end. Collecting five tornado symbols takes you into a progressive feature. If you’re slot fan who loves the Wizard, you’ll want to give it a whirl.

Mad Men

WMS Gaming

Why you’ll love it: Slot play gets an edge

from one of TV’s most innovative dramas With its curved top box screen and highdefinition, 1080 pixel graphics, Mad Men is based on the hit AMC series, and has a nice wrinkle in launching bonus events. It can trigger a bonus event through scattered bonus symbols, like most games, but it also can launch the bonus with any win of at least five times your bet. After that, a spin of a bonus wheel in the top box can bring bonus credits or land on a character symbol to bring a themed bonus events based on show characters, with plenty of video. In the Roger Sterling bonus, you’re invited to have a drink – touch a glass of some nice brown liquid on the screen and perhaps add wild symbols to the reader. Using video from the show, you’ll then get a line from Sterling to go with the bonus – “When God closes a door, he opens a dress” is one possibility. “It’s a little edgy,” WMS vice president of game development Phil Gelber said, chuckling as he showed what the game could do.

Ellen

International Game Technology Why you’ll love it: Imagery and bonuses based on Ellen DeGeneres’ daytime talker will make you feel like you’re part of the show.

The initial release of Ellen slots includes two games. Dance Party is a 432-waysto-win game, and 12 Days of Giveaway is a five-reel video slot with traditional paylines. In one Dance Party Bonus, a stack of Ellen symbols on the first reel sends an animated Ellen dancing across the screen, adding more Ellen symbols as she goes for potential big wins. And in 12 Days of Giveaway, fans of Degeneres’ talk show will know the Wheel of Riches bonus before they even play – and you get to spin the wheel by touching the screen, dragging and letting it fly.

Race Ace

International Game Technology Why you’ll love it : The video game generation will feel the old competitive spirit rise.

This is one for the small niche of players who like skill-based bonuses. Race Ace has a Mario Karts feel. You pick a car

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slot guide

and character, then press a button on the console to accelerate, and use a joystick to steer your car around the track. Along the way, you can collect speed boosts, weapons to derail opposing drivers and shields to protect you from malevolent foes.

give it that hammerhead look. During free game features the Blob can enter and attack. But the creature is no destroyer of bankrolls. It leaves behind wild symbols and bonus credits.

Neo Contra

As in other IGT Reel Edge skill-based games, those who don’t trust their skills can choose a free-spin bonus instead.

Konami Gaming

Why you’ll love it: With detail right down

to the Contra Code, Konami gives arcade players a slot to savor

Wonder Woman

The slot version of an arcade classic is based on Contra, Konami Digital Entertainment’s game of missiles, machine guns, helicopters and action that was long popular in arcades and on home game systems. Neo Contra is a full-sensory experience, with 3-D sound that will have you looking for the helicopter overhead. And in the pick’em-style bonus event, Konami has built in something special for fans of the video game: the famous Konami Code.

Bally Technologies

Why you’ll love it: Your golden lasso can rope in big bonuses in two games based on the 1970s Lynda Carter TV hit.

Wonder Woman already is in casinos in two versions, Wonder Woman Gold and Wonder Woman Wild, both on the advanced Bally Pro Wave cabinet, with its curved, concave screen. Both have threelevel progressive jackpots, with rollover values at $10, $100 and $1,000 when configured for penny play. In a free-spin bonus, Wonder Woman Gold adds wild symbols, while Wonder Woman Wild uses wild symbols to randomly substitute when A, K, Q and J symbols land on the screen. Both have a choose your volatility option, so when you got to the free spins bonus, you can choose either more spins with fewer wilds, or fewer spins with more wilds. All the while, the “Wonder Woman” TV theme plays, and the video, animation and spinning reels make it multimedia fun.

Fortuno the Great Incredible Technologies

Why you’ll love it: An eye-catching new

The Blob

Bally Technologies Why you’ll love it: A bonus-building attack will have you rooting for the monster

The Blob. Based on the 1958 horror movie that starred a young Steve McQueen – then billed as Steven McQueen – The Blob brings thrills, chills and potential big wins to your screen. It’s a wide-area progressive on the Bally ALPHA Pro V 22/22 Hammerhead cabinet, with a 22inch vertical screen for main game play, and a 22-inch horizontal screen on top to 10

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tapped into our network switch – they kind of talk to each other. So when they’re all out of session, they have the synchronized, sequenced light shows.”

display works some bonus magic

Incredible Technologies has introduced its Infinity slot cabinet that can transform a bank of idle machines into an attentiongrabbing show that coordinates the individual games with their overhead displays. Fortuno the Great, along with Lady of the Dead, are featured game as IT launches the eye-catching line. “What’s really neat is about the cabinet is what we call our Infinity banked lighting,” said Caitlin Harte, marketing manager at IT. “The cabinets that are banked are

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slot guide

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino - Biloxi, Mississippi

What makes a great slot floor? Having the machines is one thing. Having a great slot floor is another .

he popularity of slots is at an alltime high, and so is the demand for places to play. Of course, every casino has slot machines. But not every casino has a great slot floor. So, you ask, what are the defining characteristics of a great slots floor? I spoke with renowned gaming expert Linda Boyd, who has been to every casino on the Vegas Strip, among others. She knows exactly what to look for in a slot floor and with her assistance we’ve put together a list of a few things you might consider before spending your hard earned money.

The Latest and Greatest Games

A casino with a great slots floor will have the most popular games and up-to-date technology. Players should be able to 12 |

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come and play the newest games being advertised and their favorite classic games in one location. This is also a big factor for non-smokers to consider. If you prefer to play in a non-smoking area, be sure to check that it has the games you’re looking for. According to Boyd, many casinos don’t have the same popular games in the nonsmoking area as they do in the smoking area. A truly great slot floor has the same gaming options available in both areas.

Well maintained machines

Broken buttons are entirely too common. “For some reason, the eye in the sky doesn’t say anything when people are pounding on these buttons,” said Boyd. “Management should really go over and say something because it’s annoying to other people, but more importantly

L auren Reisdorf

it damages the buttons.” Often it’s the button for a certain denomination, usually the most popular, that gets damaged. Until it gets fixed, players are forced to bet an amount they’re uncomfortable with or pick another machine. Casinos typically keep mechanics on the property and players can ask to have the buttons replaced. A process which might take a while. Long enough for gamers consider playing elsewhere.

Ticket redemption devices that work

If a property uses ticket redemption devices, it’s important to check that they are in good working order. Boyd seen these machines with a wide range of issues. Some of these machines have been known to dispense money in chunks, without

and if you feel compelled, wave your arms around without fear of punching the person playing next to you. I would also include comfortable chairs, you should be able to sit and play for as long as you’d like.

Comped Drinks

It’s not unusual to work up a thirst on the slot floor. A great slot floor will provide free drinks while you’re playing. You’re already giving the casino your hard earned money. So try to get some drinks on the house.

Palace Casino Resort - Biloxi, Mississippi

notifying the player they haven’t received all of their money yet. If players don’t make it a point to count their money, they risk walking away, leaving a chunk of money for the lucky someone behind them in line. And that’s not even the worst of it. “Some of the machines, I don’t know how they get away with it, but they’ll give you the dollars and not the change,” Boyd said. You might not miss a few cents here and there but it becomes a problem when that change starts to add up. It is not uncommon to find these machines out of order so it’s worth checking out before you sit down to play.

Hand pay Threshold

This one might require a little research but is definitely worth looking into. Boyd suggests finding out what the hand pay

threshold is at a casino before you start to play. The U.S. Government requires a W-2G for winnings of $1,200 or more, which definitely requires an attendant to pay you and get you the necessary forms. Some casinos however, have a hand pay threshold that is much lower than the $1,200 set by the government. “I know many people saying they will never go back to a casino because when they hit a $500 jackpot they have to wait for an attendant and they feel obligated to tip,” said Boyd.

Customer service is an integral part of a great slot floor. The staff working on the floor should know where machines are and be able to answer any questions a customer may have. If the employee doesn’t have an answer they should at least be able to refer you to someone who can help. But having the answers is only part of it. It’s helping customers with a smile on that is most important. Attitude is everything.

Location, Location, Location The location of the slot floor in the casino as a whole can have a huge effect on a slot player’s experience. The proximity of the slot machines to the table games is something to consider. “I’ve actually seen people come close to fisticuffs because the [slot] machines will be really loud and the players at the table don’t like it,” said Boyd. “Or the players, especially at a craps table, are screaming and yelling if they’re on a hot roll and the people that are playing the slots get mad.” A great slots floor is set far enough away from other table games to avoid fisticuffs of any kind.

Room to relax

Paragon Casino Resort -Marksville, Louisianna

Polite and Knowledgeable Staff

This may be obvious, but a truly great slot floor gives gamers some space to spread out. This means wide aisles with plenty of room to peruse machines until you find the one you like. It means space between machines for coats and purses. It means when you hit the jackpot you can cheer

Gold Strike Casino Resort - Robinsonville, Mississippi

Cleanliness

Slot machines look much less fun to play when they’re covered with smudges. No one wants to press a button with all sorts of sticky on it. A great slot floor will make it a point to clean the machines, similar to how servers wipe down tables between meals. Not only will this help stop the spread of germs, but it will keep the machines sparkling.

Interesting promotions

A great slot floor will host tournaments and fun promotions. Whether it be 2X points, tournaments, drawings or free play, a great slot floor will mix it up and keep guests coming back for more.

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slot guide

Great slot floors of the South

The South is scattered with properties that possess the qualities of a great slots floor. Here is a list of some worth checking out.

Gold Strike Casino Resort 888-245-7829 goldstrike.com Hollywood Casino Tunica 800-871-0711 hollywoodcasinotunica.com Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino 800-303-7463 horseshoetunica.com Paragon Casino Resort 800-946-1946 paragoncasinoresort.com IP Casino Resort Spa 888-946-2847 ipbiloxi.com Beau Rivage Resort & Casino 888-750-7111 beaurivage.com Palace Casino Resort 800-725-2239 PalaceCasinoResort.com Ameristar Casino Hotel Vicksburg 601-638-1000 ameristar.com/vicksburg Pearl River Resort 866-447-3275 pearlriverresort.com Rising Star Casino Resort 800-472-6311 risingstarcasino.com

Number of slots

Number of table games

Casino square footage

High limit gaming area

1,372

50,000 square feet

Yes.

1,100

54,000 square feet

Yes, with a slot area and a tables room.

1700

63,000 square feet

Yes.

1,600

44 (8 tables in poker room)

64,000 square feet

Yes, with 71 slot machines.

1,700

60 (13 table games in a non-smoking area)

70,000 square feet

Yes.

1,945

83 (16 tables in poker room)

85,000 square feet

Yes, with 95 slot machines.

Over 850

38,000 square feet

Yes, with 26 slot machines and 6 table games.

1,500

27 (plus a 10 table poker room)

70,000 square foot riverboat casino

Yes, there is a high limit slot area on casino floor.

1,265 at Silver Star and 1,148 at Golden Moon

90,000 square feet at Silver Star and 70,000 at Golden Moon.

Yes, 73 slot machines and 6 table games at Sliver Star. The Golden Moonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s high limit area has 54 slot machines and 6 table games.

1,200

40,000 square feet

Yes.

Gold Strike Casino Resort

14 |

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Pearl River Resort

Palace Casino Resort

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c a si n o

slot guide

10 Ways to Maximize your play J us t be cause t h e g a me is r a n d om d oes n ’ t me a n yo u ’ r e h e l pl ess . by

J OHN GROCHOWSKI

hen we sit down to play a slot machine, our task is simple: Make a bet, spin the reels and the machine takes care of the rest. Except in rare instances, there are no strategies to learn or skills to master.

playing a three-reel game or an up-todate video slot with half a dozen different bonus events. Results are determined by a random number generator (RNG), and what you see on the reels or screen is just a user-friendly interface to display the game being played out on the RNG.

to machine, but the principal is the same. Whether your winning combination is three bars, five Eyes of Horus or any other of the millions of possibilities spread among thousands of games, the amount you’re paid is less than the true odds of winning the bet.

The flip side is that while we can’t affect the outcome in any predictable way, nor tell from the outside which games are the highest-paying, there are things we do know about slots and the casinos that operate them to get the most out of a day on the machines. Here are 10 things every slot player should know.

It doesn’t know how much you’ve wagered, and it has no record of past results.

Games with lower-denomination bets almost always give lower payback percentages than games at higher denominations.

16 |

The games are as random as humans can program a computer to be. It doesn’t matter whether you’re SOUTHERNGAMING.COM

The games make money for the casinos by paying less than true odds.

In that respect, slot machines work just like other casino games. In doublezero roulette, for example, the true odds against winning the bet are 37-1, but the house pays winners only 35-1. Slot machines have many more possibilities, and the odds are different from machine

Even in the video age, where multiple paylines means penny games can have $5 maximum bets that exceed the traditional $3 on three-reel dollar slots, $5 slots give a higher percentage back to the player than $1 slots, which pay more than quarter slots, which pay more than nickels, which pay more than pennies.

Your chances of hitting a large, lifest yle-changing jackpot are greater on reel-spinning slots.

Three-reel slots, especially those with a single payline, are designed to be more volatile than five-reel video slots. You have many fewer winning spins on the reel-spinners, but nearly all of them are for at least several times the size of your bet. “A machine doesn’t know how much you’ve wagered, and it has no record of past results.”

On video slots, more frequent small wins are a big part of the overall payback. Three-reel slots put more of their return into bigger hits. If you’re playing a threereel slot, you’re more likely to hit a big jackpot than on a video slot, but you’re also more likely to lose your money quickly. Which experience you want is up to you. All those small paybacks do add up, and help keep you in your seat longer on video games.

Video slots with pick ’em bonuses usually stretch your playing time more than games with free spin bonuses.

When video slots first rose to popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s, they were mainly concentrated on nickel games. A prime attraction was “time on device” – they kept you in your seat longer than three-real games, and one of the ways they did it was with pick ’em bonus rounds. A big win might be 100 or 200 credits, but that wasn’t bad. A 200-credit win was worth $10 on a nickel machine. But when penny games came along, designers had to find a way to pay bigger bonuses. A 200-credit bonus is only $2 on a penny game. There was a need to offer prizes worth playing for. The dominant method has been free-spin bonuses. You might win thousands of credits on free spins. You might also win nothing. It’s the possibility of nothing that makes the thousands possible.

slots, you’ll sometimes be asked to make a separate bet to be eligible for the jackpots. Just keep in mind that progressive games put a larger percentage of their overall return into the jackpots, and usually pay less on the base games.

On games with mystery jackpots, those who bet more credits per line have a better chance of winning the jackpot.

Some progressives don’t require max coins bets, nor do they require separate wagers to be eligible. Players who bet minimum coins per line are playing for the same jackpots as those who bet the max. On such games, the jackpot isn’t triggered by a combination of symbols on the reels – it’s just launched as a complete surprise to the player, even sometimes after losing spins.

On progressives, a percentage of wagers are added to the jackpot, or spread across multiple jackpots on many modern games.

These are mystery jackpots, and it’s a mystery how you win. One common method is for a random number generator to select a jackpot amount. Then the player whose bet pushes the jackpot to that level wins it. If you bet more credits, your bet pushes up the jackpot by more cents, bringing you more chances to win. Without such programming, casinos couldn’t offer the same pot to players betting different amounts.

On three-reel slots with single jackpots, you usually have to bet maximum coins to be eligible for the jackpot. On video

Per dollar played, slot players get

P l ayer s shou ld ne ver pl ay a progressive slot machine without making the wager necessary to be eligible for the progressive jackpots.

Always use a players club card when you play.

more comps and free play than table games players. You can’t overcome the house edge, but you can take everything the casino will give you. Don’t increase your bets for the sake of comps, but if you play your normal amount and the casino buys your lunch and gives you a few bucks in free play to boot, so much the better.

Ta k e a d v a n t a g e o f d o u b l e points days.

You can’t overcome the house edge with slot club freebies, but you can narrow the gap a bit with a little smart play. Let’s say your normal amount of play brings you $5 in free play. On a double points day, you’ll get $10 instead, or $15 on triple points days. Every little bit counts, and if you know a multiple points day is coming up, you might think about timing your trip to take advantage.

Wa t c h f o r o p p o r t u n it i e s in promotions.

It’s sometimes possible to improve your chances of winning at promotions with a little smart play. For example, if a casino schedules a lucky seat day in which each hour it awards $100 in free play to a player at a randomly selected game, your timing can make a difference. SOUTHERNGAMING.COM

O n th e roa d

Traveling With Baggage A few sugges t ion s on spe c i a l n eeds f or f o od, F id o a n d fi t n ess on t h e roa d by

ot a ll of us ar e born travelers. The ability to pick up and go from one town, state, or country to another takes patience, planning, and experience and there’s only one way to get it and that is to hit the road. But make a list first by reading ours.

Travel issues are common if not universal. I’m sure that Marco Polo might have packed a different trunk bound for China had he known a few handy details about the road between Venice and Asia. After all, the GPS back in the 1200s was the sun and stars and parchment and ink were all the rage. (If only Rand-McNally knew then that maps would never, ever fold 18 |

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C i n d y L a mb

back into their original shape.) Yet, the point is, they still arrived for commerce and pleasure thanks to good preparation and a positive outlook. Back to 2015 and we’ve compiled a few ideas for novice navigators on the road and in the sky to be able to enjoy your holiday or business travel with nary a hitch. Some frequently asked questions include the areas addressed in this article which is just enough info to get you on the right track. Pick up memories, not weight

It’s nice to return home with gifts and good time on board but not so much the potential extra poundage. Going off the grid for dining, drinking, and abandoning your gym or jazzercise ritual can add to

the waistline and render your lethargic. Most hotels and resorts worth their salt provide fitness centers, pools, and spas for the health conscious sojourner. And this does not mean a bellhop wheeling in a weary treadmill or tossing in some light barbells. One of the best fitness-oriented hotels in the USA was featured in Men’s Health online edition and includes the New Orleans location of The Health Club by Hilton. With more than 100,000 square feet of free-weights, elliptical machines, treadmills and more, the NOLA Hilton alsohas tennis, racquetball and squash courts. Visit the golf studio, basketball, volleyball areas and after all that, you’ll

Most hotels and resorts provide fitness centers, pools, and spas for the health conscious travelers.

deserve a massage for your new, lean body. If you’re part of the Hilton’s reward program, it’s free! When it comes to walking, the famous Peabody Hotel in Memphis is as good for its guests as for the famous ducks who have waddling privileges inside the property. It boasts the two-room Peabody Athletic Club, which is a certified Nautilus training center. In one room, you’ll find cardio equipment with individual TVs attached to them and a weight training circuit. Abs on the road

The CNN website features personal trainer and former British Olympian Shani Anderson offering sage advice in Keeping Fit on the Road: A How-To Guide. Careful preparation, portable fitness equipment and extra discipline are key. First step is to get out of the vacationer’s mindset. “A lot of people diet or work out to go on holiday. And for me that’s a problem, because you have short-term goals,” says Anderson. “You switch off when you reach the goal, and your body goes ‘great, I’m done’ - and in two weeks you’re back the way you were before.” Even with no gym access, say you’re camping, there is wide range of portable exercise equipment, from simple skip ropes to more sophisticated gadgets—such as the magnetic tension mini-bike. Portable Fitness Report Card

Given an A rating by health.com, the

New Yoga Apps give you the extra flexibility to keep up with your work outs anywhere.

GoFit Pro Gym scored highest costs the least in the Exercising Away from Home: 4 Portable Workout Kits article. Their rationale is that it’s thirty bucks, well made, inexpensive, and practical enough to keep you moving when away from your regular gym. Also making the list was Iron Gym ($40), AquaBells ($80), TRX Suspension Trainer Professional ($150). Some need no more than bungee cords, free weights, and willpower can offer you gym-quality stretching workouts in only moments between your next meeting or heading to the casino or the dance floor.

If a member of your family has fur, feathers, or scales and kennels or sitters aren’t an option, then bring them along! Cities are becoming more pet-friendly every year and most of this progress can be attributed to humans taking a handson approach to respect and care of their animals. Let’s not soon forget the story of Mitt Romney’s Chev y Caprice station wagon with Irish Setter Seamus, riding the roof in a carrier. That was back in 1983 but probably cost him a lot of brownie points with animal lovers in his run for the White House. All ribbing aside, there are more accommodating modes of travel for our animal friends these days.

All ribbing aside, there are more accommodating modes of travel for our animal friends these days.

Portable Yoga

For those who need more Zen in their journey, there is certainly an app for that. Featured on the Brit + Co website are suggestions for flexibility and calm in the Namaste on the Go: The 10 Best Yoga Apps by Ashley Garcia. Yoga poses for the beginner and the pro are available to you in most any environment where you can either breathe, medicate, or turn yourself into a soft pretzel. A Long Leash and a Lot of Love

In a brief survey, a lot of pet owners responded to a few general questions about traveling with man’s best friend, whether it is a dog, cat ferret, or parrot.

Do consult your veterinarian about your pet for his or her travel and lodging specifics such as diet, weight and behavioral needs. Micro-chipping and tags are necessary and other means of harnesses, crates, and comfort measures are easy to come by at your local pet store or online purchasing. Nothing beats word of mouth. Here are some happy campers that offered their suggestions. Almost all Red Roof Inns are pet friendly. Some make you pay an extra $10. Make sure when you do travel that you take a copy of all current vaccination/shot SOUTHERNGAMING.COM

Some people avoid eating alone but author Matt Duckor says it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Photo by Guian Bolisay.

records. If you want to board a pet for a day they will need copies of these. For our traveling anima ls we use Dramamine for carsickness, and Benadryl to calm them if needed. Both purchased over the counter cheaply. We also give them a little clear Karo syrup if they get listless from the stress of traveling. Many more hotels take pets now. And pet catalogs offer lots of folding, even softsided travel pet crates. I suggest when you aren’t in room take dog with you. Secure cats and dogs whenever you aren’t in room. You never know if someone will open your door or whether they will dart out when door opens. Getting a Room and a Run for Rover

The best one-stop shop for creat u re comfor ts on the road is w w w.off icialpethotels.com. Easy to navigate with wide-ranging and lively info on local vets, hotel friendly rates and policies, as well as wise travel advice from the experts. Find your city, click and learn all about the options for your animal companions. Travel guru Peter Greenberg summons all the top bylines for travel advice. The Jet Set with Your Pet program sounds like more care and pampering than some two-legged creatures get on a vacation. A review for the upwardly mobile mutt: Ninety Hyatt-affiliated hotels (including Park Hyatt, Andaz, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt and Grand Hyatt) offer the Jet-Set with Your Pets program. Participating hotels give guests a “Doggie Welcome Kit” 20 |

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including a bed, bowl, and tags. They also provide conveniently designated walkways with doggie bags for your precious pooch. Party of One?

Traveling solo has its benefits but in a world of table for two or event gatherings, It may be perceived as a lonely alternative but it does not have to be that way. Matt Duckor, restaurant editor at Epicurious, has compiled The Country’s Best Solo Dining Spots for the solitary traveler. An author, blogger and photographer, Matt doesn’t sing but writes for his supper and claims there’s no shame in dining alone. He believes that many restaurants are more suited for flying solo than others. “Whether it’s a well-crafted cocktail program, unusually friendly staff, an exceptionally large bar, there are reasons why certain restaurants in every American city stick out as prime candidates when I’m eating by myself. “ Travel to the Letter

A When it comes to foodservice, drive through to gourmet, the A rating is key to a pleasurable and safe dining experience. State law requires any facility selling food to have a current food service permit that is issued by the local county health department. Foodservice establishments are generally required to be inspected a minimum of three times per year depending on the type of food being prepared. Inspection Reports and permits are required to be posted in conspicuous view within the establishment. A numerical

scoring system on a 100-point scale is used with points deducted for each violation. Use your noodle before eating a whole bowl of them and accept no rating other than “A.”

AA Staying sober behind the wheel and through all dates and events of your travel plans can often depend on oneon-one or group support. If you find yourself separated from your Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor or meetings by the miles, assistance is available via www.aa.org. This website does not provide A.A. meeting info directly but with a few clicks on the state or country you are visiting, it will take you to a list of meetings and the local AA office contact info.

AAA They’re not your grandfather’s AAA! Covering highways, skyways, and ocean travel is what the venerable American Automobile Association is a guide and resource for all who travel. That’s the way they roll! Roadside assistance 24/7, maps, reviews, travel advice, and an array of discounts for international lodging and shopping. www.aaa.com or (800)-441-5008 So, embrace the spirit of Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, or Lewis & Clark. Do your homework, research your options, and ask for directions. Some of these sojourners made history but the goal for most is to simply make it to where you’re going and make it an enjoyable trip!

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“You can’t really mess up on Twitter. Well... okay, yes, you absolutely can. But you can always hit delete.”

#WinMoreMoney By f ollo w ing th e right p e opl e , yo u can t u rn t w e e ts into larg e r payo u ts . H ashtag that ! by

wi t ter , the “microblogging site” that lets people communicate with others 140 characters at a time, is a way of life to some – and a complete mystery to others. Southern Gaming’s recent reader’s survey found that many of you consider yourself to be in the latter camp.

We totally understand that. On the surface, it just doesn’t make sense that people talking randomly in such short bursts could ever be more interesting than “Here’s what I had for lunch today.” But once you do a little digging, you’ll find that there’s some fascinating stuff being written and published, much of it treating the limit of the medium as a strength rather than a weakness. 22 |

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james bickers

So, if you’re ready to take the plunge, install the Twitter app on your smart phone—or simply go to twitter.com—and get ready to “follow” some folks based on your unique playing interests. To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of experts and personal favorites who should be a great start as you start exploring the online world of sports and gaming news and information.

Twitter thing, among them Michael K a t z (@K a t z M ), Bi l l H a n s t o c k (@sundownmotel), Rodger Sherman (@rodger_sherman), and the great Jon Bois (@jon_bois), who is as much a humorist as he is a sports writer. Be sure to seek out his regular series “Breaking Madden,” in which he takes the latest Madden video game and turns all of the player stats to ridiculous extremes, to hilarious effect.

SPORTS

Before we leave aside the general sports sites, let’s make sure we run down the “big guns”: Of course there’s Sports Illustrated (@Sinow), ESPN (@espn) and SportsCenter (@SportsCenter), but don’t miss Grantland chief Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons), ESPN’s SportsNation (@Sp or tsNat ion), Tw it ter Sp or ts (@TwitterSports) Wayne Allyn Root

Let’s start with some general sites and accounts that cover multiple sports. Arguably one of the best written is SB Nation (www.sbnation.com), and it has a characteristically excellent Twitter account at @SBNation. Several of its writers are also doing the

(@CWayneroot) and Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports), and the official accounts of the NFL (@NFL), NBA (@NBA) and the MLB (@MLB). The big networks are all on there too, from CBS (@CBSSports) and NBC (@NBCSports) to USA Today (@USATODAYSports) and Deadspin (@Deadspin). Soccer your thing? Gary Lineker was a top “striker” for a number of the world’s best soccer teams between 1978 and 1994, and among many other achievements, was the top scorer at the 1986 World Cup. Today he’s retired from the game but has a new career as a sportscaster: He’s been the host of the BBC show “Match of the Day” since the 1990s, and also tweets prolifically at @GaryLineker. If hockey is more your thing, you’ ll want to follow Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) and hockey historian @NHLhistorygirl. For basketball lovers, there are almost too many interesting accounts to choose from. So here are a couple, selected because of their diversity—if you don’t care for any given one, just move onto the next: ESPN’s Amin Elhassan (@AminESPN), the off icial @NBAFantasy account, Chicago Bulls columnist Sean Highkin (@highkin), VICE Sports contributor David Roth (@david_j_roth), CBS Sports writer Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie), Washington Post NBA reporter Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee), Grantland’s Brian Phillips (@runofplay), and for a view from the hardwood itself, there’s Houston Rocket James Harden himself (@JHarden13). Of course, we don’t want to neglect the WNBA, so make sure you follow James Bowman (@Jbowman_ATL), the Los Angeles Sparks’ Candace Parker (@Candace_Parker), the long-running Women’s Basketball Daily (@WBBDaily), and the official account of the WNBA itself (@WNBA). Horse racing will bridge the gap between these two sections, as it is equal parts sports and gaming opportunity. Since we’re based in Louisville, KY – the home of the greatest thoroughbred racing in the world – we suggest you follow the official home of the Kentucky Derby, @ChurchillDowns. Other great options include long-time horse racing expert John Asher (@johnasher), tip site Horse Racing Nation (@HR_Nation), a British

perspective from Horse Racing News (@HorseRacingUK), and horse racing expert and Southern Gaming contributor Bruno DeJulio (@RacingwithBruno). GAMING

The world of professional gambling has some of the biggest personalities you will ever encounter, and it stands to reason that those personalities translate well to Twitter. There’s no better example of this than the world of poker, and there’s no better example of the poker attitude than our own contributor Phil Hellmuth. He tweets prolifically (@phil_hellmuth) about not just his poker career, but the other things he’s really into – his family, reading and sports betting, among other things. Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) also gives you a behind-the-scenes look into the life of a professional poker player, but it’s more of a kinder and gentler approach – he’s just as likely to recommend a new self-help course or an exercise regimen that he’s excited about as he is to talk about poker hands. Chris Moneymaker arguably did more to change the game of poker than any other, when he became the first “homegamer” (someone who won his entry fee in an online satellite tournament) to take home a World Series of Poker bracelet in 2003. That was the win that launched a thousand amateur poker players, stars and chips in their eyes. Moneymaker is still playing, and still t weeting (@CMONEYMAKER). And of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention one of our favorites: @SouthernGaming, a one-stop Twitter shop for news, tips and highlights for gamers and gaming enthusiasts of all kinds.

Twitter Lingo Like any good subculture, Twitter has evolved into having its own set of secret handshakes and cryptic phrases. It can be intimidating at first, but there are really only a few things you need to know. First, what’s a “hashtag”? That’s what happens when you put the pound sign (#) in front of any series of characters. It basically turns those characters into a clickable search term, so it’s a very easy way to explore topics of interest, as well as a way to play “hashtag games” (tune into the Comedy Central show “@Midnight” some evening for a beautiful example of how hashtag games are played). Then, there is the “at-message,” which is simply using a person’s Twitter handle, complete with the @ symbol, inside a tweet. When you do that, the person who owns that handle will be notified that you have written something about them. This is “tagging” someone, and it’s a popular hobby among people with too much time on their hands to try to get someone famous to respond to one of their tags. Oh, it’s also a good way for friends to communicate, too. A variant of the at-message is simply to reply to someone. In the iOS Twitter app, this involves hitting a button that looks like a typical “reply to email” button. Type your message, and the at-handle is automatically placed at the start of your message. Threaded conversations take place all the time on Twitter, with people replying and re-replying to one another. Finally, let’s discuss “retweets” and “modified tweets,” which are similar to one another with a key difference. Let’s say you found a tweet that you adore and you want to share it with your followers. You just hit the “retweet” button (the two arrows that wrap around to each other) and it’s added to your timeline, for all your followers to see. If you need to make a change to it—say, shorten the text or add a comment, it’s good form to use the “modified tweet” by placing MT in front of it. This alerts readers that you’ve changed the text from its original form.

Phil Hellmuth is one of the top poker players in the world. Follow him at @phil_hellmuth, or visit his website, philhellmuth.com

The bottom line: Don’t be intimidated. You can’t really mess up on Twitter. Well … okay, yes, you absolutely can. But you can also hit “delete” if you do.

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Ultimate

th e

Guide to

Spring

festivals

EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY THIS SUMMER by

Erica Block

Outdoor festivals are one of summer’s truest pleasures and the South hosts some of the finest festivals and cultural celebrations in the country. Whether you prefer a big gathering of thousands or an affair that’s familyfriendly, the region offers opportunities aplenty. Need help choosing which one(s) to attend? The festivals and fairs highlighted below are worthy of checking out. This list caters to a wide range of tastes, so there should be something for everyone down south.

NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL New Orleans, LA April 24 – May 3 nojazzfest.com (504) 410-4100

“Jazz Fest,” as it is called, is a cultural institution of New Orleans and a joyous celebration of the sights, sounds, and culture of the city. NOLA is known as the birthplace of jazz and when the NOLA Jazz Fest debuted back in 1970, the likes of Mahalia Jackson and Duke Ellington were the first to perform. Jazz Fest embodies its original vision and delivers a stacked musical lineup without fail, every year. The Who, The Meters, and Elton John are among the headliners in 2015.

BEALE STREET MUSIC FESTIVAL Memphis, TN / May 1-3 memphisinmay.org/musicfestival (901) 525-4611

The Beale Street Music Festival usually features an eclectic lineup of performers from many different musical genres. Artists who have performed at the festival in previous years include Bob Dylan, Al Green, The Black Keys, Kid Rock, and The Foo Fighters.

BAYOU COUNTRY SUPERFEST Baton Rouge, LA /May 23-24 bayoucountrysuperfest.com

| SOUTH E R NGAM I NG.COM

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. New Orleans, Louisianna Photo by Takahiro Kyono

The Bayou Country Superfest is a spirited country music celebration held at LSU’s Tiger Stadium. In true LSU Tiger fashion, festival goers are encouraged to arrive early to participate in LSU’s longstanding tailgating tradition.

HANG OUT FEST Gulf Shores, AL / May 15-17 hangoutmusicfest.com info@HangoutMusicFest.com

Once a small festival held along the Alabama coastline, Hang Out Fest recently entered into a joint venture with the same company that produces Coachella. It will be interesting to see if Hang Out Fest retains its relaxed vibe and killer lineup, or if SoCal will extend its corporate influence to Gulf Shores, Ala. and make the festival more Coachella-like. The Foo Fighters, Beck, and the Zac Brown Band are all slated to perform this year.

WAKARUSA MUSIC AND CAMPING FESTIVAL 2015 Ozark, AR / June 4-7 wakarusa.com (785) 749-3434

This summer marks Wakarusa’s 12th year in existence and the lineup of artists who are slated to play will not disappoint. This festival, located in a cozy nook of the Ozarks, has retained its bohemian spirit and sticks to its original grassroots ethos. While Wakarusa does offer non-musical activities like Yoga and a water slide, the weekend’s entertainment revolves around the music. The description of Wakarusa on the festival’s website says it best by summing up Wakarusa as “an experience that was created BY music lovers, FOR music lovers... never corporate, always progressive.”

FORECASTLE Festival Louisville, KY / July 17-19 forecastlefest.com

Founded in 2002 by Louisville native JK McKnight, the Forecastle

th e

Ultimate Guide to Spring festivals

Festival has transformed from a local, communityoriented event to a highlyanticipated summer festival that’s garnered a lot of notoriety. Forecastle Fest uses Louisville’s beautiful 85-acre Waterfront Park as its venue and also emphasizes environmental activism, outdoor recreation, and tastings of Kentucky’s finest bourbons and BBQ fare.

Hangout Music Festival. Gulf Shores, Alabama. Photo

by Josh Rhinehart

BONNAROO MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL Manchester, TN / June 11-14 bonnaroo.com

Bonnaroo is one of the bestknown and widely-attended festivals in the country. It’s hard to believe this fest began as a jamband-centric, homegrown venture! Each year, people from all over the globe travel to Manchester, Tennessee for the big event. As Bonnaroo did in previous years, the festival this coming June will feature an amalgam of old and new acts in its lineup, including Billy Joel and Trampled by Turtles.

ELVIS WEEK Memphis, TN / August 9-16 elvisweek.com Graceland@Graceland.com (901) 332-3322

Each year, the whole city of Memphis for one week in August lives, breathes, and exudes a burning love for Elvis Presley. Elvis fanatics from all corners of the U.S. travel to Memphis during Elvis Week, an eight daylong celebration to honor the King of Rock and Roll. A variety of different events are scheduled to unfold, including a Best Jumpsuit Contest and a candlelit vigil in remembrance of the King.

FLOYDFEST 14: FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN Floyd, VA / July 22-26 floydfest.com

FloydFest intends to keep it real and return to its roots this year by espousing the festival’s original mission and embracing the familyoriented atmosphere coveted by fans who have attended FloydFest since its humble beginnings. Considered a “boutique” music festival, Floydfest maintains a more intimate atmosphere and has a very large percentage of loyal attendees who return every year. Can’t listen to enough Bluegrass and Americana? Do you appreciate healing arts and world peace? This festival is for you.

SUNFLOWER BLUES AND GOSPEL FESTIVAL

blues artists and nationallyknown acts alike. In addition, the festival offers fascinating educational discussions and seminars about blues music and its unique roots.

OLD JOE CLARK BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL Renfro Valley, KY / July 3-5 renfrovalley.com/bluegrassfestival/

Considered by many to be the premier Bluegrass festival in the area, The Old Joe Clark Bluegrass Festival takes place right in the heart of bluegrass country. For those who are serious about Bluegrass, the family-friendly festival is a wonderful way to spend July 4th weekend.

Clarksdale, MS / August 7-9 sunflowerfest.org

2015 KENTUCKY DERBY & OAKS

Known for its authenticity, this festival is a true celebration of Mississippi’s rich musical heritage. The Sunflower River Blues and Gospel Festival features the best blues musicians in the country, showcasing local

Louisville, KY / April 18- May 2 kdf.org

The Kentucky Derby Festival, simply put, is the most celebrated horse race in America; the event usually draws close to one million people! Established in 1875,

the Oaks and the Derby are the oldest continuouslyrunning sporting events in history. During the two weeks leading up to the famous race, the festival boasts non-stop concerts, contests, parties and parades all throughout Louisville. For 2015 the Derby is offering an app that makes it easy for attendees to create a customized schedule, access interactive maps, and share their festival photos via social media.

ANNUAL SMITH RIVER FEST Martinsville, VA / August 8 visitmartinsville.com/smith-riverfest

This local event celebrates the scenic Smith River by presenting a wide range of outdoor and sports-related activities. Offerings include paddling and running races, canoeing, and biking. Like any good festival there is also a whole host of music, demos, and food trucks to enjoy. The best part? Admission is free! SOUTH E R NGAM I NG.COM

The Belmont Stakes is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown Races. Photo by Deninis W. Donohue / Shutterstock.com

Tips & Tricks of the

Triple Crown

he Triple Crow n is the most elusive prize in sports.

Baseball has its own Triple Crown. It happens when a player leads the league in three statistical categories and since baseball began in 1838, there have been 17 batters and 38 pitchers that have accomplished this amazing feat. In terms of other horsepower, to win the Triple Crown of motorsport is to capture Formula 1’s most important races: the Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and the Monaco Grand Prix. Only 17 drivers have won a single event while competing in all three, and just 1 – Graham Hill – has pulled off the nearimpossible. 26 |

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M o l ly J o R o s e n

This year will see horse racing celebrate the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby, the 140th Preakness Stakes, and 147th Belmont Stakes: and just 11 horses have captured all three. Unlike any other sport where an athlete can try for a Triple Crown over and over, a horse only has one chance to be three-years-old on the first Saturday in May.

consider that there were only 463 graded stakes races and only 110 Grade Ones. Plus, while it is common for mid-level races around the globe to feature fields of 20-some-odd horses, the average field size in the United States is just under eight horses per race: making the Kentucky Derby the largest single-run f ield in America.

But just as herculean a feat it is for a horse to capture all three jewels of the Triple Crown, horseplayers face the same tough task. As much as we want to think “it’s just another race…” It isn’t. None of them are.

What most people don’t realize is how truly difficult it is for a horse to make the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. According to statistics from the Jockey Club, 21,016 foals were born in the United States in 2012, which means the chance of one being the 2015 Kentucky Derby winner is 0.0048%.

There were 48,580 races run in North America last year. While that number represents a lot of betting opportunities,

The winner of the Preakness Stakes is draped with a blanket of flowers at the finish line. Photo by Jay Baker at Baltimore, MD.

Just because a Thoroughbred is born with the right pedigree and looks, doesn’t mean they will automatically make it to the races. Let’s say an owner is lucky and his horse has ability: no horse since Apollo in 1882 has won the Derby without having a juvenile race record. So he’s looking at a seven-month campaign (at least) at racing’s highest levels to qualify as one of the nation’s best before he steps foot into the starting gate on the first Saturday in May. So how are bettors supposed to make decisions in a full field of evenly-matched horses? Well, there are experts out there who can - and will - help you ~ some for a fee, some not. The problem is that unlike used cars, racing experts don’t come with a Carfax report. You have to handicap them too, pedigree and records aren’t just for horses. You need to find people who have specialist knowledge of racing circuits and patterns, not just information on specific entrants. It’s important to remember that access to Twitter and an opinion doesn’t automatically give someone ‘Expert’ status. Clocking services are readily available as well. If you have never handicapped with one, it will change the way you play the game. Be sure to find a service that has workout analysts, not just clockers, anyone can click a stopwatch. Analysts provide context behind the number printed on the bottom of your Racing Form with the goal of gauging how a horse will perform in his next start. Also be sure to look at the overall workout

The Kentucky Derby is the first of the Triple Crown races and the winning horse must overcome the 2.0 km field size. Photo by Bill Brine

pattern, whether a horse worked in company (and the caliber of the workmate), the quality of the workout (Ie. Was the horse under pressure from the rider or moving easily), was any new equipment used, and what was the actual distance of the workout (some trainers will send a horse to work a published 5furlongs but have the rider keep them going at racespeed to work an extra furlong or more). To find the Kentucky Derby winner, you need to analyze more than just a race record. You want to find a horse who is mentally and physically able to overcome trouble if the field size gets the better of him. A horse with the ability to get the longest distance he’s ever had to run whether his style is to set the pace (can he stay?) or come from behind (How long can he sit back before pouncing? Will he have a clear shot at daylight?); and lastly remember the Derby winner is not necessarily the best horse in the country. It is the best three-year-old on that Saturday when the gates break open. When you’re playing the Preakness, it’s important to remember that most topnotch horses would get two weeks off after a big race before they even come back to work out. With the schedule of the races, though, a horse must be resilient enough to bounce back and perform at their best on short rest. W hat was most impressive about California Chrome’s win last year was the way he scooted off the turn and drew off: that had been his style all year and Pimlico

is also the perfect track for that. Look for a horse that you think will be sitting in the first flight of runners, two- or three-paths off the rail at the quarter pole. If the two weeks rest between the first jewels is tough for horses, the three weeks rest to the Belmont is the true test of a trainer. A horseman will balance whether to let the horse have a workout (which could drain their energy reserves or prime them to peak performance) or just allow slow-and-steady gallops to preserve fitness. Not only do we start the Triple Crown by throwing the largest field these horses will ever face at them, we then end it with the longest distance most will ever run. The 1-1/2 miles marathon distance is truly the test of a champion. Not only does the horse have to have the fitness and stamina, but the jockey has to correctly gauge the depth and breadth of the turns. More than one Triple Crown has been lost by a misjudged millisecond. No matter what angles you develop over the years, the single biggest betting trick is to Trust Your Gut. Some of the best scores come from looking over at the TV, seeing a horse, and thinking “he looks ready to run today.” For all the angles and studying you do, if your gut gets tingly looking at a Thoroughbred: put a few bucks across the board on it - the worst that happens is you’re out a few bucks. Lady Luck may have a very unladylike way of running out at times, but you can limit the doubt when playing the Triple Crown races with a few simple tips and tricks. SOUTHERNGAMING.COM

Player Strategy

HORSERACING: Intentional Pari-Mutuel Wagering

’ve spoken with hundreds, maybe thousands of horse players in my day, and while most of them grasp basic handicapping precepts, few have mastered the art of managing their bankroll. More specifically, I know some downright excellent interpreters of the Daily Racing Form who access Amscot Financial almost every other week in order to secure a payday loan. Preposterous you say!? Well, there’s simply an enormous difference between being an efficient handicapper and being an efficient bettor. In every gambling genre, but especially with regards to Thoroughbred horse racing, the innate skill marked “money management” separates princes from paupers. Budgeting Benjamins is far more crucial than mounds of printed information, intuition or even some salacious backside scoop! Don’t believe me? Just investigate profiles of the players who win hundreds of thousands of dollars in those high profile national handicapping tournaments. Sure they can figure a race but more crucially, they know when, how and, most important, exactly how much to wager! Unquestionably, an “equivalent betting” approach is the most elementary way to besiege a Thoroughbred racing card. Here, a horse player initially divides their bankroll by the scheduled number of upcoming races. Hence, an $80 budget pitted against a 10-race card equals $8 worth of action per race. Being an “equivalent bettor” has many advantages; the biggest being that unless you have an extremely bad day, you’re going to return home with cash in your pocket. On the f lip side, equivalent betting not only curtails profit when a favorable situation arises but it also inevitably induces several low confidence investments. Ultimately, “equivalent betting” should be looked at as a type of invisible “limiter” predominantly employed by conservative souls. On the opposite end of the spectrum we have the “all or nothing” methodology. This speculative

E r i c F loy d

stratagem involves staking an entire session’s bankroll on one race OR on one horizontal wager. For example, a player might lay down a $200 win bet mid-way through the card or decide to invest the same two c-notes in an attempt to annex a life changing Pick 6 payout. Truly brethren, there have been seasons in my life where the “all or nothing” methodology has steadily financed vacation get-a-ways, stock purchases, brand spanking new clothes and romantic rib-eye dinners. Conversely, I have also felt the excruciating sting of jumping with no underlying net. Just remember that anything (and I mean anything) can happen when the gates open. Seemingly unbeatable favorites startlingly lose, equines regularly clip heels and stumble, veteran jockeys mysteriously tumble from the saddle and disqualifications invariably occur when the rent money is on the line. As a disclaimer, a player should NEVER wager every Earthly nickel they posses; although doing so makes for a great story either way. Finally, we present probably the wisest parimutuel budgetary philosophy; a practice grizzled race trackers refer to as the “spot play” system. In this instance, one’s budget is equally allocated across however many races appear “playable”. (Please note, determining whether a race is “playable” or not remains purely subjective.) In any event, under the “spot play” system, a punter worth $60 who fancies three out of say nine impending races will determinedly stick with purchasing a trio of $20 mutuel tickets. Now an older-than-dirt horse racing adage which I’ve tattooed on the inside of my eyelids emphatically states, “You can beat a race, but you can’t beat the races!” Well, the aforementioned “spot play” system is essentially based on this austere axiom. Actually, I’ll admit the “all or nothing” methodology better typifies Thoroughbred racing’s original proverb but quite frankly, possessing a little margin for error greatly reduces those pesky heart palpitations.

Eric Floyd is a turf writer for various gaming publications as well as a Triple Crown pari-mutuel consultant for several national media outlets. Excerpts from his gambling memoir, My First Decade Playing the Game, can be found at LuLu.com.

“Just remember that anything can happen when the gates open.”

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Player Strategy by

Li n da B oy d

W Linda Boyd is a veteran tablegame player and video poker expert. You can watch her videos on YouTube. Her book, “The Video Poker Edge,” includes free removable pay schedules and strategy cards for the most popular games.

“The rationales for not inserting a slot club card before depositing money into a device are as varied as they are bogus.”

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VIDEO POKER: Boomerang

hen I was in Australia a few years ago I noticed that although “pokies” (video poker) machines were quite popular that unlike the country’s famous boomerangs, player benefits didn’t always come back to frequent patrons. It caused me to ponder the differences between gambling in Oz and other worldwide gaming spots versus the advantages of remaining right here in the USA. So for those whose boomerang won’t come back elsewhere, here are some tips for accessing the bounceback from their casino play. 1. L ess is more. You will want to select just a few casinos to get your gambling business. In fact, optimally just one or two is best of all. That’s because most house’s have tiers of slot card levels and the higher the level the greater the player benefits. For example, if you have their highest level card you may get double or triple cash back from your play and bigger discounts in the gift shop. 2. Coupons and mailers. Southern Gaming has an excellent coupon club worth joining for $29, but you’ll be way ahead of the expense after using the coupons once or twice. Never be embarrassed to use a special offer or coupon while inside a casino. 3. Bounceback cash. Just like a boomerang, cash will come back to you in what’s called “bounceback” based on your play. Sometimes this takes the form of free play and it usually has to be redeemed in person. That’s because they want to get you inside their doors knowing most gamblers will stay awhile. 4. Slot cards. The rationales for not inserting a slot club card before depositing money into a device are as varied as they are bogus. There is no way playing with a card has any impact on either the cards dealt or drawn in VP, nor will it alter slot results. Some players have weird conspiracy theories about the casino spying, but any time you’re in a casino there’s an eye-in-the sky and it’s not a blind o. Also

keep in mind that you can’t justify writing off your loses against your winnings if audited without the data provided by the casino. In other words you may have to pay more federal or state (statutes vary) taxes than you owe without a casino win/loss statement. I still see VP players without a card inserted and I’m baffled by their complaints regarding lack of comps in spite of frequent play. 5. M aximize DROP (daily rate of play). Make sure you know the casino’s day since it varies from place-to-place. For example if it runs from 6 a.m. until 5:59 a.m. as the 24 hour cycle day then keep that in mind for your DROP figures. You would not want to play for 10 hours and then go two hours into the next day. The reason is if you remain within their designated day you would have 12 hours instead of six hours (10 + 2/2 = 6) as an average. 6. P romotions. You should plan your visits around desirable promotional events such as tournaments, contests or multiple points. Typically these activities are free and your equity (number of tickets or tournament eligibility) is based on your level of play. This is especially true if you have he luxury of going whenever you choose, like retirees. Often multiple points are available during slow times and if there’s a promotional contest the fewer the patrons the better your odds. 7. V olatility. Assuming two games have the same ER (expected return) the one with the lowest variance (explained in my book, “The Video poker Edge”) will net you the best contest equity and inflate your cash back, card level, promotional equity and other benefit returns. You will want to be familiar with basic game strategy by practicing on tutorial software (I recommend Dean Zamzow’s WinPoker) before coming to the casino. Make sure you bring pay schedules with you (free removable schedules are in my book “The Video Poker Edge”).

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Player Strategy

BLACKJACK: Should you tip the dealer?

receive many questions from blackjack players. Below are a few of them with tips on how to tip a dealer, what to do if a dealer makes a mistake and what you should do if a casino oversteps the legal rights of a player. Q: Should you tip a blackjack dealer? If so, how much? A: There is no rule that says you must tip a blackjack dealer, just as there are no rules that say you must tip a waiter or taxi driver. However, let’s be realistic ... we all know that many hardworking folks who work in the service industry have a low base salary and that they depend upon tips to make ends meet. When I go to a restaurant, whether I tip my server and how much depends upon the service I get. Ditto for blackjack dealers. Unfortunately, I’ve run into some surly blackjack dealers over my 35-year playing career. You know the type ... gruff, disagreeable, irritable, grumpy, unhelpful, never smiling and making you feel uncomfortable when you play. My tip for them is nada. If a dealer is extremely obnoxious (I’ve actually had one call me an asshole for not leaving a tip), I will the pit boss. On the other hand, if a dealer has been friendly, courteous and helpful, I will leave a tip. How much? Because I play with an advantage, I know how much my theoretical hourly profit is and I usually tip no more than 25 percentage of this. (I also wait until the count is in my favor before making a bet for the dealer.) If you are a basic strategy player and you want to tip a friendly dealer, my recommendation is to tip a few dollars if you are a $5 or $10 bettor, and tip $5 if you are a $25 bettor. (See next question.) Q: Does it make a difference how you tip the dealer? I’m asking because sometimes I see players make a tip for the dealer on their hand while others just leave some chips for the dealer after they are done playing. A: I think it’s important that you let the dealer know early in your session that if she is friendly and helpful that you will be tipping her. Therefore,

if she’s friendly from the get go, I’d make a bet for her on your hand (now she knows that if she continues the behavior you expect, she will probably be rewarded with more tips). However, I don’t recommend that you place the chips you want to bet for the dealer on the outside of your betting spot (most players do this). Instead, you should place the chips you want to bet for the dealer on top of your chips and inside the betting circle. The reason is if you place the chips outside of the betting circle, you have no control over them. If the hand wins, the dealer will keep the chips you bet for her plus the corresponding winning chips. If you place the chips on top of your chips inside the betting circle, you still own them, meaning the dealer only gets to keep the winning chips or whatever you choose to give to her. Usually, I let the chips that I bet for the dealer ride on the next hand. If I win a few hands in a row, it gives the perception that I’m a big tipper. In addition, by placing the chips you bet for the dealer on top of your wagered-chips, the additional amount will count toward your rating. Q: The dealer made a dealing mistake, which caused me to lose. Her supervisor wouldn’t correct the mistake. I felt cheated and I’ll never play at that casino again. A: Normally, if a dealer makes an error in dealing the cards or in a payoff, she is supposed to bring it to the attention of her supervisor. The floor supervisor has the responsibility to correct the mistake. In most cases, the supervisor will give the benefit to the players because he wants to maintain them as customers. However, if you believe that the supervisor hasn’t corrected the mistake to your satisfaction, you should tell the supervisor that you would like to speak to the pit (or shift) boss. I would plead your case at this level, including asking the pit or shift supervisors to review the tapes of the table so they can see the mistake made by the dealer.

H e n r y Ta mb u r i n

Henry Tamburin is a blackjack and video poker expert. He is the host of the smartgaming. com website and the editor of the Blackjack Insider newsletter (for a free threemonth subscription, visit bjinsider.com/freetrial). For a free copy of his Casino Gambling Catalog, which contains books, strategy cards, and software for casino players, call toll free 1-888-353-3234, or visit the web store at smartgaming.com

“I’ve run into some surly blackjack dealers over my 35-year playing career. You know the type. Gruff. Unhelpful. My tip for them is nada.” For More Free TIps, Visit southerngaming.com

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Player Strategy by

Frank Scoblete

CRAPS: Back Wall Hits, Luck and the Don’t Let’s take some time to do some Q and A’s from our fans: FROM HOWARD: I was wondering if you could answer a question for me, please. I am a dice control craps shooter. I was at the Parx casino last week and got into a 75-minute shoot. Yeah!

Frank Scoblete’s new book is I Am a Dice Controller: Inside the World of Advantage-Play Craps! Available from Amazon.com, Kindle or at your favorite bookstore. Join Frank on his web site at frankscoblete.com.

“One important thing I have learned in my quarter century of gambling: Never give someone advice.” For More Free TIps, Visit southerngaming.com

a lot to go through for a lousy five dollars. I played Keno for awhile and was headed out the door when I remembered that chip. I went to a $5 craps table and put it on the pass line. A seven was rolled. I let the $10 ride. An 11 was rolled

I know casinos like for both dice to hit the wall but sometimes it doesn’t happen. I know they tried to intimidate me by telling me both dice have to hit the back wall.

I let the $20 ride. A seven was rolled

If I don’t what can they do?

I left there at about one in the morning with $550. Life was good, and I was sure glad I had saved that chip.

I am looking forward to your answer. FRANK RESPONDS: Unless they were nasty to you when they told you to hit the back wall, they were only doing their jobs. A part of shooting the dice is hitting the back wall. The casinos want that because when the dice hit the back wall they think the game then becomes random--and for non-dice-controllers it certainly does. If the casino is not happy, they have the right to take the dice away and not let you shoot. They have the right to tell you they don’t want you to play craps in their casino at all, and they can also tell you never to return. Keep in mind you are playing their game, in their casino, and you must adhere to their rules. FROM BOB: I love your columns and just read the story about the guy who suggested to a fellow player that he bet the “ don’t” and the player stormed off. Here’s my craps story. Years ago my wife and I came home from Atlantic City and, somehow, a $5 chip from Caesars was packed and came home with us. The next time we visited Atlantic City I took the chip with me. We had a comp room at the Tropicana so we stayed there. It was about 7:30 in the evening when I decided to go to Caesars to play Keno. I found my wife playing the slots and told her I was walking down to Caesars. Of course she said to take the chip and, of course, it was in the room. With an eye roll I went to the room and got the chip, muttering all the time that this was

I then put $10 on the pass line. A four was rolled Took $20 odds. A four turned up the very next roll.

FRANK RESPONDS: And you don’t just have Lady Luck to thank for your win, but your beloved wife! FROM GEORGE: In your column about the person who would not play “ don’ts” a few words: A few months ago while playing at the I.P. in Biloxi, it got so bad that ALL FOUR of us were playing the “don’t” only. Even when we had the dice! Everybody was going three to four rolls then out. Some people walked up and started playing the pass line. They kept losing and griping. One of the four said if shooters are playing “don’t” on themselves that should tell you something. They got angry and told us that we didn’t know how to play. And left. There is no telling about some people. This is the silliest thing I have seen in my short craps career. Don’t they know players can play both sides of the table? Hope you find this funny. I swear this is true. FRANK RESPONDS: “Don’t” players are disliked by the majority of “right” players. This has been so ever since I can remember. But one important thing I have learned in my quarter century of gambling: Never give someone advice. I’ve been writing for Southern Gaming and Destinations since it began. So here’s a FREE deal for our readers: a free copy of my book, “The Virgin Kiss (while supplies last).” Just send me your address at Frank Scoblete, PO Box 446, Malverne, NY 11565 or fscobe@optonline.net.

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Player Strategy

NO-LIMIT HOLD’EM (NLH): Introducing

Phill Helmuth, Jr.

No-Limit Hold’em to Your Home Game

ow is the time to tell you that if you introduce NLH to your own home poker game, watch out! The money won and lost can escalate pretty quickly. Before long, the size of the pots will be more than you bargained for. As a brake against this tendancy I reccommend that you introduce NLH in a “cash-down” format, which allows people to take a portion of their chips off the table at a certain peredetermined chip total. For example, you could require everyone to keep at least $50 in chips in play (making that the maximum they could lose in one pot), but allow them to take off the money above that amount. If someone wins $110 pot, he can remove $60 in chips and put it in his pocket while keeping $50 in play in front of himself. In this way, the stakes won’t go up and up and up after a few hours of NLH plays, as they usually do. This system also allows the players to play an amount they feel comfortable with. You might have two business owners keeping $2,000 apiece in front of themselves, and a couple of other players with only $70 each in fron of themselves. It’s also possible that one player has a mere $17 left, because he started with $50 but lost down to this point.

How does the pot work if the two $2,000 players move all-in along with the $17 player on the same hand? The player with $17 is entitled to $17 each from the big stacks if he wins the pot. His money is matched by both opponents. In fact, the $17 player may well make a straight flush and lament the fact that he won only a $51 pot! Meanwhile, the nearly $4,000 side pot may be won by a player holding merely top pair! Ironically the straight flush wins $51, but one pair wins a $3,949 side pot on the same hand. If someone starts with $50 and loses $20 in one hand, he can play the $30 until he goes broke. Again, the cash-down format also allows some of your richer friends (“big dogs”) to leave a lot more money in front of them. So two of the big dogs could play as big a pot as they want to between themselves, while the little dogs have all-in protection for their money. All –in protection simply means that if you have $38 in front of you, then you can win all the money in front of each opponent up to $38 each (each opponent matches your $38). No matter what you saw in the entertaining but extremely inaccurate move Big Hand for the Little Lady, in any poker game you can’t be forced out of a pot because someone else has more money on the table than you do. NLH is the game in the poker world right now. One reason is that it opens up poker and offers the possibility of making more challenging “moves.” You can now make bluffs that have teeth. If you smell weakness in someone, you can raise him right out of the pot even if you’re weak. You can now bet so much money on your drawing hand that you will force your opponent to fold! NLH is poker at its best, because you don’t necessarily have to hold or make a lot of good hands to come out a winner. You can win pots with your reads and understanding your opponents. It’s a bit like playing chess with a sledgehammer!

Phil Hellmuth Jr. is a 13time World Series of Poker Champion, leading all other poker players in the world. He is the author of two New York Times bestsellers, and his latest book, “Deal Me In,” also is widely popular. Visit phillhellmuth.com to check out his clothing line, blog and exclusive gaming tips.

“NLH is poker at its best, because you don’t have to make a lot of good hands to come out out a winner.”

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WSOP CIRCUIT EVENT ®

APRIL 16 – 27 HARRAH’S CHEROKEE CASINO RESORT

Don’t miss your opportunity to get in on the game and win a WSOP Circuit Ring. Special hotel rates are available as low as $99 mid-week and $299 on Friday and Saturday. Call 844-777-7711 and mention code WSOP15 to book now. Visit WSOP.com for additional event details.

Subject to change. Must be 21 or older to enter casino floor and to gamble, and must present a valid state or federal photo ID upon request. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-522-4700. An Enterprise of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. ©2015, Caesars License Company, LLC.

Sou thern Gaming’s

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Churchill Downs (Louisville) 1-800-283-3729

Southland Park Gaming & Racing (West Memphis) 1-800-467-6182

Jacks Restaurant & Lounge (Louisville) 1-502-897-9721

4 Florida

Galt House Hotel & Suites (Louisville) 1-800-THE-GALT

Daytona Beach Kennel Club & Poker Room 1-386-252-6484 Derby Lane Race Track (St. Petersburg) 1-727-812-3339 Shula’s Steak House (Tampa) 1-813-286-4366 Mardi Gras Casino & Racing (Hallandale) 1-877-55-SLOTS Watermark Grille (Naples) 1-239-596-1400

5 Georgia Eclipse di Luna (Atlanta) 1-678-205-5862 Garibaldi Cafe (Savannah) 1-912-232-7118

Golf Courses of Kenton County 1-859-371-3200 Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse (Louisville) 1-502-584-0102 Keeneland Racecourse (Lexington) 1-800-456-3412 Lassing Pointe Golf Course (Boone County) 1-859-384-2266 Nevel Meade Golf Course (Louisville) 1-502-228-9522 Pat’s Steak House (Louisville) 1-502-896-9234 Porcini Italian Restaurant (Louisville) 1-502-894-8686 Seelbach Hotel (Louisville) 1-502-585-3200

Felix’s Fish Camp Grill (Mobile) 1-251-626-6710

Hal’s The Steakhouse (Atlanta) 1-404-261-0025

Lucy BUffet’s LuLu’s Restaurant (Gulf Shores) 1-251-967-5858

Rocks on the Roof @ The Bohemian Hotel (Savannah) 1-912-721-3901

8 Louisiana

The Trellis Room Restaurant (Mobile) 1-251-338-5493

6 Indiana

Delta Downs Racetrack & Casino (Vinton) 1-800-589-7441

3 Arkansas Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism 1-501-682-7777 The Faded Rose Restaurant (Little Rock) 1-501-663-9734 Hot Springs Visitors Bureau 1-888-SPA-CITY

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Belterra Casino Resort (Vevay) 1-888-BELTERRA Rising Star Casino Resort (Rising Star) 1-800-472-6311

7 Kentucky 21C Museum Hotel (Louisville) 1-877-217-6400

SOUTHERNGAMING.COM

Café Giovanni (New Orleans) 1-504-529-2154

Paragon Casino Resort (Marksville) 1-800-946-1946 Sam's Town Hotel & Casino (Shreveport) 1-877-429-0711 Shreveport/ Bossier Visitor’s Bureau 1-888-45-VISIT

Got a favorite spot? Let us know!

14 12 13

We do our best to list some of our favorite places to gamble, stay, eat, drink and be merry. If you want to share a hidden gem, email us at editor@southerngaming.com or call 1-877-582-9478!

9 Tunica (Mississippi) Gold Strike Casino Resort 1-888-24-KSTAY Hollywood Casino Tunica 1-800-871-0711 The Hollywood Cafe (Old Hwy 61) 1-662-363-1225 Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall 1-800-456-0711

10 Mississippi

Golden Nugget 1-800-634-3454 Golden Gate Hotel & Casino 1-800-426-1906 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 1-800-473-7625 MGM Grand 1-877-880-0880

Pearl River Resort (Philadelphia) 1-866-44-PEARL

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino 1-877-632-7800

11 Missouri

Mirage Las Vegas 1-800-627-6667

Cielo Restaurant & Bar (St. Louis) 1-314-881-2105 Lumière Place Casino & Hotels (St. Louis) 1-314-881-7777 Rigazzi’s Italian Restaurant (St. Louis-Hill District) 1-314-772-4900 River City Casino (St. Louis) 1-888-578-7289

12 Las Vegas (Nevada) Aria Resort and Casino 1-866-359-7757 The Bellagio 1-888-987-6667 Caesars Palace 1-800-HARRAHS Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant 1-702-364-5300

Palms Hotel 1-866-942-7777 Paris Las Vegas 1-877-796-2096 The Venetian 1-877-283-6423 Wynn Las Vegas 1-888-320-WYNN Wild Wild West Hotel & Casino 1-800-6-STATIONS

13 Laughlin (Nevada) Aquarius Casino Resort 1-888-662-5824 Golden Nugget Laughlin 1-800-950-7700 Harrah’s Laughlin Casino and Hotel 1-800-427-7247

Tournaments and Events

NCAA Men’s Final Four Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis April 4-6, 2015 | ncaa.com/final-four

The NCAA® Men’s Final Four® is the culmination of a long season and one of the most exciting events in all of sports. you can look forward to all of the exciting events for fans of all ages surrounding the games!

6 11

Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Festivities

Savannah, Georgia March 13-17, 2015 | 912-233-4804 | savannahsaintpatricksday.com

The official St. Patrick’s Day festivities will kick off Friday, March 13 through Tuesday, March 17. The 191st St Patrick’s Day parade will take place Tuesday March 17, 2015 at 10:15am. The St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Savannah, Georgia is the city’s largest annual celebration and the second largest St. Patrick’s Day gathering in the United States. Attracting roughly 400,000 Irish and honorary Irish visitors and local celebrators each year, Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day traditions are steeped in the area’s rich Irish heritage.

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9 2

Heartland Poker Tour

Ameristar Casino Vicksburg - Vicksburg, Mississippi March 20 - March 30 | HPTPoker.com

The HPT is the premier poker tour of the region and will make its annual stop in Vicksburg for ten days of action packed poker. Don’t miss a range of buy-ins from $85 satellites to the $1,650 main event.

Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic Champions Tour 14 Reno (Nevada) Atlantis Casino Resort 1-800-723-6500 Circus Circus Reno Hotel & Casino 1-800-648-5010 Eldorado Hotel & Casino 1-800-879-8879 Hyatt Regency Resort Spa & Casino (Lake Tahoe) 1-800-233-1234 Peppermill Resort Spa Casino 1-866-821-9996

15 Ohio

Arthur Hills Golf Course at Palmetto Dunes (Hilton Head) 1-866-380-1778 Bloody Point Golf Club & Resort (Hilton HeadDafuskie Island) 1-843-341-3030 CQ’s Restaurant (Hilton Head) 1-843-671-2779 Golden Bear at Indigo Run (Hilton Head) 1-843-689-2200 Harbour Town Golf Course (Hilton Head) 1-843-363-4485

Blue Ash Golf Course (Cincinnati) 1-513-745-8577

Hilton Head National (Hilton Head) 1-843-842-5900

Elks Run Golf Course (Cincinnati) 1-513-735-6600

Salty Dog Café (Hilton Head) 1-843-363-2198

Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse (Cincinnati) 1-513-784-1200

17 Tennessee

Montgomery Inn Boathouse (Cincinnati) 1-513-791-3482

16 South Carolina Aunt Chilada’s Easy Street Café (Hilton Head) 1-843-785-7700

Gaylord Springs Golf Links (Nashville) 1-615-458-1730 Half Shell Restaurant (Memphis) 1-901-682-3966 The Peabody Hotel (Memphis) 1-901-529-4000 Rendezvous Barbecue (Memphis) 1-901-523-2746 Vanderbilt Legends Club (Brentwood) 1-615-790-1300

18 West Virginia Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races 1-800-795-7001 The Greenbrier (White Sulphur Springs) 1-800-453-4858 Mardi Gras Casino & Resort 1-304-776-1000

Bound’ry (Nashville) 1-615-321-3043

Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort 1-800-489-8192

Cherokee Valley Golf Course (Memphis) 1-901-525-4653

Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino & Racetrack 1-304-232-5050

Folk’s Folly (Memphis) 1-901-762-8200

Mississippi Gulf Coast – Biloxi, Miss. March 26-29, 2015 | 2015mgrc.com | 228-896-6365

This is a three-day, 54-hole stroke play competition; no cut. There will be a three day broadcast - Live on The Golf Channel (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) - With 81 Champions Tour Players competing for a $1.6 million purse ($240,000 winner’s share). This competition will benefit Local Charities including Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Beau Rivage Spring Break Poker Classic Beau Rivage March 26-April 6, 2015 | beaupoker.com

$150,000 guarantee.

Masters Golf Tournament Augusta, Georgia April 6- 12, 2015 | masters.com/en_US | (800)-726-0243

The 2015 Masters Tournament will be the 79th edition of the Masters Tournament and the first of golf’s four major championships to be held in 2015.

French Quarter Festival New Orleans April 9-12, 2015 | fqfi.org | (504) 522-5730

The award-winning French Quarter Festival is a four-day local music showcase scattered throughout the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana – The largest free music event in the United States. French Quarter Festival features 400 hours of free, local music from a variety of musical genres on over 20 stages throughout the French Quarter.

WANT COMPS? If you are a qualified casino player, let us know! We will be happy to connect you with some of our preferred casino properties around the world! For more information, please e-mail comps@southerngaming.com or call 1-877-582-9478. SOUTHERNGAMING.COM

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A day in the life of... a Hotel Concierge by

james bickers

iane Schure loves her job. Really, really loves it. Every day, she stands behind the Concierge desk at the Carefree Resort & Convention Center in Carefree, Arizona, and helps her guests find the perfect food, entertainment, or exploration experience. Schure, who also serves as the president of the Arizona chapter of the National Concierge Association, says she came to the career by chance. A friend of hers was working as a concierge at Carefree, and mentioned that she thought Diane would also be great at the job. So she left behind her previous careers, a school teacher and owner of a chain of tire stores. “It was the best decision I ever made--what a special profession I stepped into,” she says. “As a hotel concierge I have wonderful experiences assisting guests to maximize their time in Arizona. I am a people person and I am constantly enjoying my encounters with people from all over the world.” Schure says that computer skills are vital for the job, but even more important is a natural passion and joy for great food and tourism activities, as well as the kind of people skills that can lead you to understanding what people are really looking for. “You have to be tenacious in locating places and things that guests request … (you can) never give up! People ask one question but that is usually the tip of the iceberg. You have to be able to ask the right questions to be sure you are accommodating the actual needs of the guest.”

“It is true that some restaurants will provide guests sent by a concierge with a free appetizer or dessert, which is always a pleasant surprise for the guest,” she said. “I think the restaurant will generally take better care of a guest sent by a concierge because if the guest reports an unpleasant experience back to the concierge, we will contact the restaurant and relay our concerns. If we continue to get bad reports we will send our guests elsewhere.”

“From the ordinary to the bizarre, requests of all kinds are confront your friendly hotel concierge every day.”

Schure says that every day, she’s helping her guests chase down personal needs, like misplaced clothes or electronics, or replacements for a missing or lost prescription. She has to stay current on the best places nearby for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and develop the judgment to make the right recommendations based on how she “reads” the guest. “You also have to know how to get movie or show schedules and tickets to sporting events or special events that are in town. This is why we have networking organizations, to keep us on top of what is new in the area that might interest our guests,” she said. “My favorite part of the job is my daily interactions with guests,” she added. “These are sometimes trying but usually fun and I can learn from them.” What about the old rumor that guests get better service from a restaurant if they booked their reservation via the concierge desk, versus booking it themselves? Schure said there is truth to that, some of the time. 36

| SOUTHERNGAMING.COM

She also said that when she books a reservation for a guest, she knows to ask for special treatment when it comes to seating, which a new visitor to town would probably not think to do.

You meet a lot of people from all over the world when you work as a concierge, but when asked for her most memorable encounter, Schure tells the story of a young scientist who was at Carefree for a conference.

“He was from France and spoke very little English but he had a dream,” she says – he had always wanted to ride a HarleyDavidson motorcycle to the Grand Canyon, and Carefree is only about four hours away. Schure made some calls and made it happen for the visitor. “I was able to make his dream come true,” she says. “He made his road trip.”

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Follow Us! Pearl River Resort • Choctaw, MS near Philadelphia • 1.866.44PEARL(1.866.447.3275) • www.pearlriverresort.com A development of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians