Midwest Gaming and Destinations - January 2020

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 VOL. 22 ISSUE 1 GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM $5.00

IOWA

CASINOS PLACES TO PLAY

PAGE 10

POKER

HOW TO WIN A

TOURNAMENT

PAGE 16

TOP SPORTING EVENTS...

SUPER BOWL, KY DERBY, RYDER CUP AND MORE! PAGE 6

PLUS: TIPS ON BLACKJACK | CRAPS | VIDEO POKER & MORE! Covering Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and the entire Midwest!

Introducing the highly anticipated extensions of our award-winning Smokin’ Hot Stuff Wicked Wheel™ game on a brand new cabinet. Wicked Wheel Panda™ and Wicked Wheel Fire Phoenix™ on Empire Flex™.

49-inch flexed display. Striking 4K content. Industry-unique integrated light bars. Larger enhanced glass button deck. Another example of our unrelenting commitment to innovation.

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LETTER

from the Publisher

UP FRONT with G. DOUGLAS

PUBLISHER

Gaming Media Group Inc. PRESIDENT

G. Douglas Dreisbach FOUNDING PUBLISHER

Larry Bisig

Happy New Year!

We are excited to kick off 2020 with another awesome issue loaded with great articles, tips, overviews and more. When it comes to finding the best gaming strategies and places to play, look no further than Gaming and Destinations. Whether you like to read the printed magazine or prefer to surf around GamingandDestinations.com for tips and reviews, we promise that both will make you a more informed player and give you a better shot for success on your next gaming adventure.

One of the ways we ensure the articles we publish are truly featuring the best casinos and gaming getaways is with our annual Readers’ Choice Awards taking place now until February 28. Gaming enthusiasts from around the region cast votes for everything from buffets and steakhouses to suites and showrooms. Each year, we receive over 20,000 votes and we can’t wait to see what properties excel in this year’s awards. As an extra incentive, we are giving away the Ultimate Casino Getaway to one lucky voter, so be sure to vote today! We will publish the results in the May Issue so stay tuned! For more information and to vote, check out page 26, or fill out the online ballot at GamingandDestinations.com.

As we start to plan out the year ahead, we thought it would be fun to look at some of the top sporting events ranging from horseracing to golf, and everything in between. In addition to checking out top notch competition, one of my favorite parts about major sporting events is all the hype that surrounds them and how much more is going on than just the game. Whether it is the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby or another sports spectacle, you will find pre and post-game concerts, promotions, events, meet and greets with players or celebrities, and much more. So, if one of these top sporting events catches your eye, be sure to do your homework, book your hotel somewhere close to the action, and let the good times roll! Check out the whole list on page 6.

With sports betting unfolding around the country, we also wanted to make sure our readers were all ‘tuned-up’ and ready when it comes to making bets and cashing in at the sportsbook. There are so many variables that come into play when trying to pick a winner that it is easy to start second guessing yourself and your pick. On page 20, we highlight some easy strategies to follow and how to use betting trends and public information to help keep it simple and hopefully lead to successful wagers. Good luck with your wagering this year!

Lastly, we are excited to introduce a new article each issue that will celebrate some of the elite thoroughbreds in the sport of kings. Some of you will remember the races referenced in the articles, and some may just recognize the names. Regardless, each selection will reconfirm their strengths and why they are among the elite thoroughbreds of our time. We start out with super horse Zenyatta who missed an undefeated career by a nose against Blame in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Check out the highlight on page 14.

We hope you enjoy the inaugural article!

We wish you all a healthy and prosperous year!

LAYOUT AND DESIGN

Hill Harcourt CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

Jason Bales Linda Boyd Alex Chopra Eric Floyd Alex Payton Frank Scoblete GAMING AND DESTINATIONS

136 St. Matthews Ave. #300 Louisville, KY 40207 (502) 212-5177 e-mail:

editor@gaminganddestinations.com The goal of this publication is to help drive awareness of the ever-growing popularity of the gaming industry

and to assist gamers in enjoying their gaming experience to the fullest.

Gaming and Destinations is published

for those who seek the best in gaming

and in life, and is produced bimonthly

by Gaming Media Group Inc. of Louisville, Kentucky. Copyright

2019 by Gaming Media Group Inc.

All Rights Reserved. This publication is printed by LSC Communications., 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

If you can’t be good…be lucky!

does Gaming and Destinations assume liability for claims of advertisers.

POSTMASTER:

Send address changes

to Gaming and Destinations,

G. Douglas Dreisbach President & Publisher

136 St. Matthews Ave. #300 Louisville, KY 40207

On the cover: Tiger Woods is

among several sporting spectacles we

2

look forward to this year. | G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M

IN THIS ISSUE ON THE COVER

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Sports Spotlight:

Top Events in 2020

FEATURE ARTICLES

WINNING TIPS AND STRATEGIES

HIGHLIGHTS & HOT SPOTS

16 Texas Hold’em:

14 Horse Highlight:

How to Win a No Limit Tournament

17 Sports Betting:

10 Iowa Casino Action:

The Number to the Left

18 Video Poker:

20 Sports Betting Strategy:

19 Craps:

Keep it Simple

26 2020 Readers’

23 Sports Wagering:

Where to Play in the Hawkeye State.

Church of the Good Hustler

Zenyatta: The Queen of the Sport of Kings

Find the future odds on major sporting events.

24 Casino Directory: Our preferred properties and attractions.

Less is More

Choice Awards:

Let the Voting Begin!

6

14

20

Find us on Facebook

@MidwestCasinos G GA AM MIIN NG GA AN ND DD DE ES STTIIN NAT ATIIO ON NS S..C CO OM M ||

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FACTS & FUN STUFF SIPS WITH GAMING & DESTINATIONS

DID YOU KNOW

1

?

HOW MUCH MONEY IS WAGERED ANNUALLY ON THE SUPER BOWL? A . $1 billion B. $500 million

4

D. $6 billion

C. MGM National Harbor – Maryland

WHAT YEAR WAS THE FIRST SUPER BOWL BETWEEN THE GREEN BAY PACKERS AND THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS? A . 1924 B. 1936

With Mardi Gras right around the corner, we thought it would be appropriate to pay tribute to the world-famous Hurricane cocktail. This passion fruit-colored relative of a daiquiri was created by none other than Pat O’Brien when he needed to get rid of excess rum. He made the concoction, poured it into a hurricane-

3

D. The Venetian - Macao

5

WHAT HORSE WON THE FIRST KENTUCKY DERBY IN 1875?

A . Faster Bullet B. Aristides

C. 1967

C. Gellato

D. 1981

D. Swale

WHAT DOES THE TERM ‘JUICE” MEAN WHEN BETTING SPORTS?

Answers: 1.) d 2.) c 3.) b 4.) d 5.) b

HURRICANE COCKTAIL

A . MGM Grand - Las Vegas B. Aristides WinStar World Casino - Oklahoma

C. $22 billion

2

WHAT IS THE LARGEST CASINO IN THE WORLD BOASTING OVER 10 MILLION SQUARE-FEET?

A . The preferred morning drink of the day.

B. The bookie/casino fee for accepting the bet.

C. Nickname for a big bettor.

D. Term for losing a big bet.

shaped glass and gave them away to sailors. The drink caught on and the rest is history. We hope you enjoy it and Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

Ingredients: 2 ounces of light rum 2 ounces of dark rum

Points scored by the Chicago Bears in the 1940 NFL playoffs. The Washington Redskins scored 0. This was the biggest blowout in NFL postseason history.

73

1000

1 ounce of lime juice 1 ounce of orange juice 1/2 ounce of passion fruit puree 1/2 ounce of simple syrup 1 barspoon of grenadine Directions: 1. Add all ingredients into a shaker, with ice, and shake.

2. Strain into a large Hurricane

23 MILLION

with fresh ice.

3. Garnish with a half wheel of an orange and a cherry.

4

| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M

Americans who wager on the Super Bowl each year.

39.7

Million 61

Average weight in pounds of a thoroughbred racehorse.

Largest slot machine jackpot ever. It hit on a $100 Megabucks machine at Excalibur in Las Vegas.

Percentage of casino visitors who prefer to play slots.

Y O U ’ V E A R R I V E D.

Ameristar Casino offers stunning views of the Mississippi River and bridges. Three restaurants provide dining experiences from casual to elegant, and the weekend nightlife is always fun with live music in the Bottleneck Blues Bar. In the casino, play the way you want with over 1,200 slots, 27 table games, and 10 live poker tables. Or, for the ultimate sports betting experience, spend some time at The End Zone, a full-service sportsbook with multiple betting windows, a spectacular viewing area with the largest HD screens around, and an expansive sports bar with lots of brews on tap!

WE’LL SEE YOU WHEN YOU GET HERE!

4116 WASHINGTON ST VICKSBURG, MS 39180 | AMERISTAR.COM Must be at least 21. Gambling Problem? Call 1-888-777-9696. ©2020 Penn National Gaming, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Mercedes-Benz Stadium will host this year’s NCAA Football Championship game and the basketball Final Four and Championship games.

SPORTS SPOTLIGHT:

TOP EVENTS IN 2020 by

W

e have a big year ahead of us in 2020 and I can’t wait to get into it all. Sure, it is a presidential election year, but you can’t bet on debates, though I sure wish we could. So, as we start to look ahead to see what excitement we can start preparing for, start marking the calendar, finding hotels and gearing up for some great sports getaways!

Football To kick off the new year, we have some football to finish up as we crown another college football champion and look forward 6

| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M

A L E X P AY T O N

to Super Bowl LIV! The Super Bowl will be held in Miami, Florida on February 2nd with the fabulous Jennifer Lopez performing the halftime show. And yes, this A-Rod fan is excited for that. This has been a very competitive year and many teams have the ability to make their way to Miami in the first week of February. As this article was written, there are two big MVP names still in contention as their teams continue to play well. As a Louisville grad, I am a little biased for my guy Lamar Jackson. He has been the highlight of the year, showcasing all of his offensive abilities for the Baltimore Ravens.

He has one of the best chances at the MVP

this year, but not far from him is Russell Wilson. Wilson has continued his great play for Seattle, beat Lamar and the Ravens and has a tenured head coach in Pete Carroll.

This will be fun to watch unfold.

Also primed up for an action evening of football is the College Football Championships in Atlanta on January 13.

The top four teams as of this writing are Ohio State, LSU, Clemson and Georgia.

We’ll see what unfolds but this will be a game you won’t want to miss!

BASKETBALL March is always an exciting time of year

in sports, primarily because of college basketball. The NCAA Final Four will take place April 4th, and Championship Gaming on April 6th in Atlanta, Georgia.

As always, teams like Duke, Michigan State, and Kansas will certainly be in the mix and are no strangers to being on top, but it will be interesting to see what teams transpire over the season and make a run in the tournament. Don’t overlook my Louisville Cardinals who are sitting at #1 in country as I write this. Chris Mack is doing an incredible job this year and has a lot of talent. Jordan Nwora is hoping to lead this team on a long run in March and with the mix of veteran leadership and young talent, I am expecting some exciting games! Down the road in Lexington, Calipari has another young team at Kentucky who might be a bit streaky now, but he always has his team clicking when March comes along. He is going to be trying, as always, to get some consistency before the year is up and never count out Coach Cal! There is nothing quite like filling out those brackets every year and taking your co-workers money. Don’t ask me to be in your bracket. It wouldn’t be fair to everyone else in it!

After several years of Warrior dominance, I am excited to say the NBA is not a twohorse race anymore. With the Golden State excellence broken up by the free agent market and injuries, there are several teams who could end up playing in the championship in June. It could create some great playoff entertainment in Los Angeles as Lebron and Anthony Davis make one of the top duo’s of all time and plan to lead the Lakers to a successful season. But they are going to have to share their Staples Center home with a good roster, if healthy, in the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George who also have good pieces around them, and Doc Rivers is trying to change some fan allegiances in LA. Meanwhile, Milwaukee will be near the top in the East trying to make it all the way with Giannis, and the 76ers will be right there with one of the most athletic teams in basketball. And we can’t count out Houston with The Beard dropping 40 a game, plus the addition of Westbrook is going to help the cause. 2020 might be a year to see which team can stay healthy and bring a full roster to the playoffs.

The Kentucky Derby is a must-see event held the first Saturday of May in Louisville, Kentucky.

(Photo courtesy of Churchill Downs)

HORSERACING

SUMMER OLYMPICS

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year as horseracing is in full swing and the Triple Crown of racing kicks off with the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 2 with the 146th running of famed race. Then, the second leg of the crown, The Preakness Stakes, takes place just two weeks later in Baltimore on May 16, and then the Belmont Stakes takes place three weeks after that on June 6. It is going to be interesting to see the response after the disappointing disqualification at the Derby last year, but I am pretty sure the Triple Crown races will all have their fair share of fans in the stands. Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher will be bringing their best as always, looking to win the biggest races of the year. So, it’s time to buy that new outfit, get your tickets, plan your parties, and get excited for a Mint Julep filled day.

This year brings back the Summer Olympics and I couldn’t be more excited. You always need to take advantage of this special event, since we only get this opportunity once every four years. America has always seemed to fall in love with the performance of a certain athlete in these games. We have had faces like Simone Biles and Michael Phelps that have really brought the country together to root for their success. Someone has to be that center of attention this year. Who will it be?

I think we need to look out for Noah Lyles to take that spot. He is competing in track and field, and has broken Usain Bolt’s sprint record in 2019. He will be looking for gold in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and the 4x100 meter relay. Regan Smith is a swimmer who also might receive a lot of attention. She will just be turning 18 this year, and already holds several world records in the backstroke.

Regan didn’t qualify for the 2016 Olympics at the age of 14, but she is a young talent who could have some success in the 2020

In addition to the Triple Crown, the horseracing world comes together in the annual Breeders’ Cup World Championships. This is where the top horses among various divisions each race to see who the champions are. You will see a total purse of almost $30 million up for grabs with the Classic race for 3-years old’s and up carrying a purse of $6 million. If you like horseracing, this two-day spectacle takes place on November 6 and 7 at the beautiful and historic Keeneland Racecourse in the horse capital of the world, Lexington, Kentucky. Don’t miss out!

Team USA looks to have a big Summer Olympics.

(Photo courtesy of: ©2019, Peter DeMoore, Courtesy of ACVB & AtlantaPhotos.com) G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

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games. In gymnastics, one person to look out for is Morgan Hurd. Another young talent from the United States is looking for her first trip to the Olympics. She hopes to follow in Simone Biles’ footsteps and achieve stardom in Tokyo.

PGA In the PGA, Rory McIlroy is coming off another FedEx Cup win. I like him to be near the top of the favorites this year alongside some other familiar names such as Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson. It will be interesting to see if Tiger can stay healthy and win a tournament or two.

Another major win would be huge in his race to catch Jack Nicklaus. Hopefully Tiger

can come back strong in April at the Masters and have a good season. When he is in the game, everything is bigger and that is good for golf. He is on the heels of leading Team USA to a huge victory in the Presidents Cup in December as the captain and player and should be poised and ready to take 2020 by storm. Add that to the fact that this year will mark the 43rd Ryder Cup, and we could be in for some major fireworks from Tiger and the entire USA team. The Ryder Cup will be played September 25 -27th at Whistling Straits Golf Club in Wisconsin where the top players in the United States take on the top players from Europe in various matches and formats to determine the winner. Making golf a team sport at a professional level and mixing up the format from regular tournaments, creates an excitement and buzz around the sport that a lot of other tournaments fail to do. The U.S. team is bound to have some veterans as well as some talented young guys that have had success on tour making for some interesting matches. Go USA!

MLB

Can Tiger Woods carry his 2019 momentum into 2020?

(Photo courtesy of JKMultimedia - Shutterstock)

At the end of the 2019 MLB season, the Washington Nationals walked away with their first World Series championship. With a lot of trades and free agency still to happen, we could be in for a very different playoff picture in 2020. One of the top stories to watch this year will be the Philadelphia Phillies and how things unfold with the

team’s direction. Joe Girardi is going to have his hands full with high expectations right out of the gate, but as a former Yankees manager, he will be able to handle that.

Bryce Harper has to be hungry for a playoff run after his old team won it all just a year after he left. The Yankees are in the process of building an all-star team centered around their signing of stud pitcher Gerritt Cole to a $324 million contract. The Dodgers are still trying to put it all together, and the Astros are hoping Commissioner Manfred has a good offseason. There is no telling what kind of sanctions will be passed down, or rules might be put in place over the World Series sign stealing issue. Take some time and watch a little more west coast baseball this year if you haven’t been already. Mike Trout is on pace to achieve all-time great statistics, and does so in incredible style. He is a once in a generation talent so embrace it while it lasts.

While we can’t predict the epic events and moments that will unfold in 2020. Heck, Floyd Mayweather might be back in the ring this year as he turns 43. Insider information does say the Louisville Cardinals will win in March, the LA Clippers will be kings in California, and the Yankees will win their 28th World Series title. You heard it here first. It will be another year filled with winners and even more losers. Just make sure you wear the right jersey, or you might end up in the wrong column. Happy New Year!

Major Moments of 2020

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When

What

Where

Our Pick

January 13

NCAA Football Championship

Atlanta, Georgia

Clemson Tigers

February 2

Super Bowl LIV

Miami, Florida

San Francisco 49ers

February 16

Daytona 500

Daytona, Florida

Brad Keselowski

April 4

NCAA Basketball Championship

Atlanta, Georgia

Louisville Cardinals

April 9-12

Masters Golf Tournament

Augusta, Georgia

Justin Thomas

May 2

Kentucky Derby

Louisville, Kentucky

A Chad Brown Horse

June 4-21

NBA Championship

TBD

LA Clippers

July 24-Aug. 9

Summer Olympics

Tokyo, Japan

Amazing Athletes

Sept. 25-27

Ryder Cup

Kohler, Wisconsin

Dustin Johnson

October 20-28

MLB World Series

TBD

Atlanta Braves

November 6-7

Breeders’ Cup

Lexington, Kentucky

Awesome Horses

| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M

G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

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Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Sioux City, IA

DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT:

IOWA CASINOS

I

owa, the Hawkeye State, has a reputation for the simple life- namely corn, football, and good living in beautiful surroundings. While there were few gaming options in the state for many years, over the past few decades a number of phenomenal properties have opened, so that Iowa gamers and visitors don’t need to leave the state to place a bet. There are casino properties all over Iowa, offering poker, slots, and a whole host of other wagering opportunities, no matter what you desire. Let’s take a look at some of the top-tier casino gaming destinations in the state of Iowa.

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| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 111 3rd St, Sioux City, IA 51101 The Hard Rock Sioux City is one of Northwest Iowa’s most popular, and highlyregarded casino-resorts. The hotel shares its name with the famous chain of restaurants and hotels with a rock and roll theme, and the Hard Rock Sioux City lives up to the hype of its namesake. There are several options for casino gamers, including a sportsbook, poker tables, blackjack, baccarat, and almost 1,000 slot machines for every budget. Gaming is not all they have to offer at the Hard Rock Sioux City- not by

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Sioux City, IA

a longshot. They offer a Rockstar Rewards program, which is similar to the points card you’ll find at most other casinos, with free plays, rewards, and cash prizes for users.

Entertainment is a big draw for the casino, with high-profile comedians like prankster Steve-O, and 90’s hitmakers, Everclear, as well as many other musical and comedic acts from across the country showcasing at the inhouse venue, Anthem, with outdoor shows at their Battery Park amphitheater. If you’re hungry, the casino offers three different dining options- Fuel American Grill, Main+Abbey, and World Tour Buffet for a phenomenal Vegas-style buffet. You can also find drinks and a good time at Anthem, Lobby Bar, or The Yard. The casino also works with partners in Sioux City to set up outings and other recreational activities for casino and hotel guests.

What they have: 24-hour casino, hotel accommodations, poker room, casual and fine dining options, bars and entertainment lounges, and pool and jacuzzi, salon and spa, live events, and event center, player’s club.

Riverside Casino & Golf Resort 3184 IA-22, Riverside, IA 52327 Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, just a short drive from Iowa City, is Eastern Iowa’s answer for gaming, golf, and entertainmentall under one roof. The casino sits close to the Mississippi River, and the property brings to mind the riverboats and gambling operations of the frontier- without having to deal with the water. The property offers a full-service casino, including tables games like craps, roulette, face up pai gow, ultimate texas hold ‘em, and many others, as well as a full-sized poker room. If you want to bet on an Iowa Hawkeyes game, or any other professional or collegiate sport- the Riverside Casino

Riverside Casino & Golf Resort - Riverside, IA

and Golf Resort has both an in-person and online sportsbook. They also have a player’s club called the eClub which offers discounts, special offers, and various prizes for staying at the property, making purchases, or making wagers.

The resort features a full hotel, with suites available, and package deals for groups, businesses, conventions, etc. Hotel amenities include plush bedding in each room, large HDTVs in each room, complimentary wifi, and a full-service fitness center. The hotel has four different restaurants, from upscale to casual, they include: Ruthies Steak and Seafood, Draft Day, 22 and Vine Cafe, or Robert’s Buffet. The hotel also has a performance event center, guided golf outing for guests and visitors, as well as a show lounge that hosts acts from across the midwest and United States.

What they have: 24-hour casino, hotel accommodations, poker room, casual and fine dining options, bars and entertainment lounges, and pool and jacuzzi, salon and spa, live events, and event center, player’s club, golf.

Prairie Meadows Casino, Racetrack, & Hotel 1 Prairie Meadows Dr Altoona, IA 50009 Altoona’s Prairie Meadows Casino has been a mainstay of the Central Iowa gaming scene they opened in early 1989, and remain a locally-managed, nonprofit casino, a distinction they share with only one other casino nationwide. Aside from gaming, entertainment is the big draw at Prarie

Meadows, with regular musical concerts from local, regional, and national acts, comedy shows, cultural events, and other gatherings hosted at the Prarie Meadows Casino Event Center. The Event Center also hosts gatherings, including business conventions, family gatherings, trade shows, and other options.

They offer simulcast and live horse racing, sports betting, and an 85,000 square foot casino floor. Slot offerings come in both new-style video slots as well as the classic pull slots of yore. Table games include blackjack, roulette, pai gow, and almost all you would expect to find in a casino in Las Vegas, Reno, or Atlantic City, in addition to a full poker room. The property includes live and simulcast horse racing, and sports betting in addition to the casino gaming options mentioned above. The Prarie Meadows Casino offers five dining options, from upscale dining destinations like AJ’s Steakhouses to more casual eateries like the Triple Crown Buffet, Champions, and Quick Bites.

What they have: live and simulcast horse racing, sportsbook, 24-hour casino, hotel accommodations, poker room, casual and fine dining options, bars and entertainment lounges, and pool and jacuzzi, salon and spa, live events, and event center, player’s club.

Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel 1504 305th St, Tama, IA 52339 The Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel opened in 1992 to great fanfare, and offers visitors more than 67k sq feet of casino space, more

G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

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than 400 hotel rooms, pool and jacuzzi, spa and salon, as well as entertainment and dining options for the whole family. One thing that sets this casino apart from others is the fact that it has the loosest slots in Iowa, according to data compiled by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. They have nine different table games, including blackjack and pai-gow, a poker room, and a bingo parlor that can seat up to 550 people at once. The casino also hosts a number of museum-quality Meskwaki artifacts, which highlight the history of the region and the people that inhabit it.

There are six different eateries/watering holes to visit while you are at the Meskwaki, the Prime Cut Grill for high-end, traditional cuisine, Lucky’s Grill and Taproom alongside the Lounge for drinks and casual fare, and the Food Arcade, Buffet, and Bingo Concessions for whatever else you feel like eating or drinking. They also offer a full-service hotel, with a fitness center, indoor pool, and free rental scooters for all visitors. The bingo games are of particular note at this casino and are the biggest drawso if you’re a dedicated bingo lover this might be the place for you.

What they have: bingo, fitness center, sportsbook, 24-hour casino, hotel accommodations, poker room, casual and fine dining options, bars and entertainment lounges, and pool and jacuzzi, salon and spa, live events, and event center, player’s club.

Diamond Jo Worth Casino 777 Diamond Jo Ln Northwood, IA 50459 The Diamond Jo Worth Casino is located right off of I-35, along the Minnesota/ Iowa border, on the Iowa side. This casino/ hotel combo offers almost 1,000 video and pull slots, no-limit poker, and regular live entertainment on the weekends. They also have 23 different table games available at the casino, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and many others. There is also a no-limit poker room if you feel like some Texas Hold ‘em, Omaha, or Pineapple.

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Rhythm City Casino Resort - Davenport, Iowa

In addition to their gaming options, the Diamond Jo Worth Casino is a centrallylocated place to hold events and meetings, including corporate events, parties, and large vacation groups.

Lodging at the Diamond Jo Worth comes in the form of an attached Country Inn and Suites, which is enrolled in the nationwide Country Inn and Suites members rewards program. There are three dining options at the casino, including Burger King for something quick, or the Woodfire Grill or Kitchen Buffet for something a little bit more substantial and sit down worthy. They offer a rewards program called “B-Rewards” which offers users an interactive online profile where they can book a stay, accrue rewards points, and receive informative news and information about upcoming events at the casino.

What they have: sportsbook, 24-hour casino, hotel accommodations, poker room, casual and fine dining options, bars and entertainment lounges, and pool and jacuzzi, live events, and event center, player’s club.

Rhythm City Casino Resort 7077 Elmore Avenue Davenport, Iowa, 52807 The Rhythm City Casino Resort is first on our list for a reason. This exceptional casino property offers all of the excitement

and glamour of Las Vegas, in a place that has just as much of a right to call itself the heart of Iowa, the city of Davenport. All of the amenities discerning travelers have come to expect are present at Rhythm City, including plush hotel accommodations, full casino with slots and table games, as well as sports betting and a viewing room for games, in case you want to bet on your favorite team. The casino has regular promotions each month, which offer prizes and cash giveaways, these are typically themed based on the holidays, special events, sports, and more. They also offer a rewards program which enters you into various contests and gives you prime access to deals and coupons for gaming and events at Rhythm City.

This property also offers visitors multiple restaurants and dining opportunities, including Robert’s Buffet- for a Vegas-style super-buffet, Ruthie’s Steak and Seafood for a decidedly upmarket, fine-dining vibe, or the Draft Day Sports Lounge or The Market for on-the-go and casual options like a beer and a burger. Rhythm City has more than gaming- the Rhythm Room hosts different entertainment acts from across the country, from the eclectic stylings of Sushi-Roll to the 50s inspired sounds of The Tailfins. As far as large-scale casinos go, the Rhythm City is among the best “full-service” casinos in the state, aka those which emulate the full

Vegas resort experience. While there are

many places to lay down a bet, not all strive to be a resort-casino, opposed to just a casino.

What they have: 24-hour casino, hotel

accommodations, poker room, casual and fine dining options, bars and entertainment

lounges, and poolside cabana and rec areas, salon and spa, live events, and event center, player’s club.

The Final Word When most people think of Iowa, they do

not immediately think of casino gaming.

However, over the past few decades the state has carved out a nice little niche in the midwest, catering to tourists and locals

alike. With racing, table games, bingo, and poker in all corners of Iowa, experienced and new gamers alike will find something they

love, all without booking a flight to Vegas or Atlantic City.

Riverside Casino & Golf Resort - Riverside, IA

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HORSE OF THE ISSUE:

ZENYATTA: THE QUEEN OF RACING R AC I N G C A R E E R : 2 0 0 7 – 2 0 1 0

S

ince the beginning of the 21st century, no race has ever influenced a thoroughbred’s legacy more than the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Loaded into the starting gate at Churchill Downs, owning a 19 for 19 record and a résumé that included victories in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic and the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic, Zenyatta at the time stood just ten furlongs away from retiring with the rarified title of “undefeated race horse”.

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On that historic day under the Spires, this super filly stalked from the back of the pack only to make an incredible stretch run to finish second by a nose to Blame.

However, I will contend to my dying day that if Zenyatta would have beaten Blame, then she would currently be mentioned in the same breath as greats such as Man o’ War, Citation, Secretariat, Kelso, Count Fleet and Native Dancer.

What you have read thus far is entirely subjective. Without

question, some probably still consider Zenyatta to be the greatest racehorse of all-time.

Conversely, some wouldn’t even rank her in the top 20. Be that as it may, there is no denying one thing, Zenyatta influenced the “Sport of Kings” to the extent that the aftershocks can still be felt today; nearly one full decade behind her retirement.

At day’s end, I think one thing “Horse Racing Nation” can agree on is that Zenyatta’s

mysticism had much to do with her eccentric running style. The pure definition of a “dead closer”, the “Queen of Racing” (as she is sometimes affectionately called) would almost always drop back to dead last before she would initiate her patented late rally; one that would find its fifth gear somewhere around the eighth pole. Adding fuel to this habitual spectacle was the fact that (due to the inevitable “traffic” in front of her) Zenyatta would pretty much always get “hung wide” going around the far turn before she straightened away for home. Typically hung seven or eight paths wide, Zenyatta hence usually gave up seven or eight lengths of “ground” to her competition (and then would go on to win anyway).

To be honest, horses are like people; meaning, some are just smarter than others. And frankly, I personally believe that Zenyatta was a bone-fide genius. I say this because if you watch her replays carefully, it is clear that she is just toying with her competition.

As a matter of fact, sometimes I can almost hear her thinking, “I wonder how much of a head start I can give these burros and still win?”

Nevertheless, this “playing with fire” mentality nearly burned the “Queen of Racing” on a few select occasions. In fact, if she didn’t possess her absolutely ludicrous 26-foot stride (that’s longer than Secretariat’s by the way), Zenyatta would’ve never been able to steal victory from the jaws of defeat in both the2009 Clement Hirsch Stakes and the 2010 Vanity Handicap.

(All things considered; I often wonder if Zenyatta simply tried to get “a little too cute” when she took herself nearly 20 lengths off of the pace in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic.)

When it comes to racehorses it is often said, “The great ones have personality.” Well friends, Zenyatta certainly “fits the bill”.

You see, the “Queen of Racing” would habitually thrill her fans by performing a distinctive pre-

Zenyatta’s Lifetime Statistics

Starts Firsts Seconds

Career 20

19

1

Thirds 0

Earnings

race “dance” both in the confines of the saddling paddock, and then again during the subsequent post-parade! Adept at bowing her neck and locking her front legs as she pawed at the ground, Zenyatta thus effortlessly hyped the crowd however many believe that the aforementioned antics might have actually been authored in an attempt to intimidate the competition.

Let it be known that throughout the course of 2020, Gaming and Destinations Magazine will continue to look back at some of those equines that have made an indelible impression on the “Sport of Kings”. Now naturally, several different candidates were considered for this year’s inaugural “Horse of the Issue” column yet Zenyatta appealed to me not just because of those factoids already mentioned, but also because she owns two North American racing records that I doubt will ever be broken with successive stakes wins (17) and consecutive Grade 1 wins (9).

Earnings Per Start

$7,304,580

$365,229

2010 6 5 1 0 $1,830,000 $305,000

2009 5 5 0 0 $3,330,000 $666,000

2008 7 7 0 0 $2,090,580 $298,654

2007 2 2 0 0 $54,000 $27,000

Author Bio: Along with being a turf writer for various gaming publications, Eric Vaughn Floyd also acts as a consultant for several nation-wide media outlets with regards to Thoroughbred Horse Racing’s Triple Crown Series and the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. His all for charity novel “Heaven’s Premier Horse Race” can be previewed at Amazon.com.

G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

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PLAYER STRATEGY

POKER: How to Win a No-Limit Hold’em Tournament This column is an excerpt from Hellmuth’s “Texas Hold ’em,” which discusses How to Win a NoLimit Hold’em Tournament.

The Early Ante Stages: Take Control?

At this point in the tournament there is a better mathematical argument for “getting involved” (making blind steals or coming over the top of others who are presumably making blind steals).

But certain players (me, on occasion) like to sit back and let the other players go crazy, and then nail them when they finally do have a nice hand.

It just depends on who is at your table, and what they seem to be doing.

A lot of times I will sit back and let other players outplay me for long periods of time, and then “felt them” (bust them, leaving nothing but felt). I let them think they can outplay me, even going so far as folding the best hand more than once when the hand is close, which encourages them to feel comfortable moving in on me; then bang, they’re busted. Many times these days I’m forced to sit back and set the bait, but I will always take what the table gives me, and I’ll raise and reraise when I have good reads (or good hands), or when the table is particularly passive.

So at an aggressive table, I will relax and wait until the aggressive players give me their chips (or outdraw me!). And when I’m at a passive table, I will control the action by making raises and reraises.

Playing A Short Stack And A Big Stack An axiom that I love states basically that when you have little money, then take tons of chances, but when you have a ton of money, quit taking chances altogether. In my life I have found that this axiom manifests itself naturally: when I started winning big poker tournaments, I gave up riding motorcycles and piloting small planes.

Why take chances now that I had a future?

In poker tournaments the same thing has generally been true for me. When I have a ton of chips, then there is no need for me to gamble and take chances by paying weak hands. Status quo is good, protecting chips is better, and having a winning situation come up when you I have a big stack-because I waited for it--is the best! So remember to protect your chips when you’re in the lead in a tournament.

On the other hand, when you have no chips, and not too much to lose, then you can take a few chances. I’m not saying that you should go crazy, just that you should make a few all-in moves. For 16

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by

PHIL HELLMUTH

example, with $2,000 left and the blinds at $200$400 with a $50 ante, you should be thinking, “I need that $1,050 in ante and blind money!” If I have, say, Q-9 two positions off of the button with no callers, I like moving all-in here better than folding. If I win the pot uncontested, then I move up in chips at least 50 percent, from $2,000 to $3,050. A few well-timed moves like that and your chip position changes quickly.

Some champions like to use their big stack to bully everyone else, but that tactic seems to work less and less lately, since the new players have figured out, for whatever reason (TV!), what we’re doing.

They no longer just fold their A-J off suit when they should (or at least when we think they should), instead choosing to make a stand with it.

Later On, Well After The Dinner Break If you’re still in there late with at least average chip stacks, then whatever you’re doing that day is working. Don’t change it until you reach the final 12 players or so. Stick to what brought you there for the next few levels of play. Pay attention to some of the older players or the more fatigues players, because many of them will become easier to read the later the hour. When players get tired, they will make more mistakes, and will lean too heavily on the very character that makes up their nature.

The Dynamics of the Final 18 Things change as people smell the big money and the big prize. Disintegrations, fatigue, and loss of effective play all hit about now. It’s like watching the final holes of one of the four golf majors: the pressure is on and the choking begins for many players. But on day one, many times, the goal is simply to make day two. If that was your goal, then keep this in mind.

Sometimes, players are so desperate to make day two that they fold an absurd number of hands, and you can make a good number of blind steals to fortify your stack for the final table battle the next day, and the big money. (Remember that the big money goes to only the final three spots in most poker tournaments.)

So you do have to pay attention to making the final table, but be sure to watch for opportunities to steal some extra blinds along the way, as the table goes from 18 players down to 10. If you do go out, then fine. Just make sure you have a good “bad beat” story. Don’t disintegrate!

Phil Hellmuth Jr. is an 11time World Series of Poker Champion leading all poker players in the world. He has two New York Times bestseller books — “Play Poker Like the Pros” and “Bad Beats and Lucky Draws” — both of which can be found at Amazon.com. Phil’s books, blog, tips and more can also be found at PhillHellmuth. com. Chat and play with him at UltimateBet.com and learn about his new cell phone game at HellmuthHoldem. com.

“WHEN YOU HAVE LITTLE MONEY, TAKE TONS OF CHANCES, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A TON OF MONEY, QUIT TAKING CHANCES ALTOGETHER”

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PLAYER STRATEGY by

W AY N E A L LY N R O O T

SPORTS WAGERING: The Number To The Left We’ve all seen the little number to left of team names while watching college basketball.

Numbers like 8 Duke or 14 Louisville. Should these numbers mean anything to sports bettors?

Perhaps a small amount but maybe not for the reasons you think.

Wayne Alyn Root has been dubbed by the national media as “The King of Vegas,” “America’s Oddsmaker,” and “The Face of Las Vegas Gambling.” He was also honored with his own star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.

This tip column was originally published in a 2009 edition of Gaming and Destinations.

“IF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE DOESN’T USE THE POLLS WHY SHOULD A BETTOR?”

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The national rankings don’t matter as much in college basketball as they do in college football.

In football, they are used as part of the formula to determine which teams play in the megadollar Bowl Games. The NCAA Basketball Tournament Selection Committee doesn’t even use the polls in selecting or seeding teams for March Madness. They have their own RPI rankings that they use to determine who is in and who is out. So, if the Selection Committee doesn’t use the polls, then why should a bettor?

The television networks that broadcast college basketball games love the national rankings because it helps them hype the upcoming telecasts. Be honest, when you hear that #9 is playing at #17 on Saturday night on ESPN2 you make plans to watch don’t you? We’re all influenced to tune in, but a smart sports handicapper won’t let it affect his wagers.

Once a team earns a high ranking the pollsters don’t usually move them down unless they lose a game. This means the rankings don’t necessarily reflect who is playing the best right now. Teams can continue to win straight up but not be playing as well as when they earned their ranking. The linemakers adjust point spreads based on recent performance. The public will use the national rankings as a guide to make wagers. An informed bettor will use other factors.

An important fact to keep in mind about the national polls is who votes. One poll is made up of sportswriters and the other is voted on by coaches.

Let’s analyze these two groups. Sportswriters not only have to cover their local college basketball team, but generally have to follow the other sports teams at that school (as well as possibly even covering the local high schools). This doesn’t leave much time to follow the other teams across the country. What happens is that the basis of their knowledge for voting comes from watching ESPN, Fox Sports and other sports stations. The highlights on these networks are usually dunks

and three-pointers and not the parts of the game that lead to ATS (Against The Spread) wins like coaching, defense, rebounding and free throw shooting.

The coaches that vote in the polls spend even less time watching or worrying about other teams across the country. They spend all of their time working on gameplans and getting ready for the next game. Coaches are certainly knowledgeable about their own team and teams in their own conference, but just don’t have time to follow all the teams in college basketball. Therefore, teams that are perennially good always seem to be at the top of the rankings. Coaches know teams like Duke, Kansas and North Carolina are good, year in and year out, so they automatically rank them highly.

How can we use this to our advantage as bettors?

Knowing the public follows the polls, linemakers adjust the lines to draw action on both sides.

Studying a team’s recent play will allow us to find lines that are off. A prime example of this is when a ranked team plays an unranked team and the unranked team is favored. The linemakers obviously believe the unranked team is worthy of being a favorite. Invariably, someone in every sportsbook will proclaim, “They’re ranked 12th and getting points!” before heading to the window and making a wager based solely on that small bit of information. When the unranked team pulls the “upset” over #12 it makes headlines in newspapers and websites and might even be the top story on SportsCenter, but the professional handicapper didn’t even consider it a big deal. He knew the unranked team always plays good at home or just got a key player back from injury. He also knew that #12 was struggling on the road the last three games and their point guard’s assist-to-turnover ratio was steadily going down as the season progressed. Again, recent form prevailed when determining a winner.

The point is this, the national polls are great for friends to discuss and argue over when their teams are ranked higher than the other. But for wagering purposes, the little number to the left should be largely ignored and other factors should be used when determining on who to place your money.

G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

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PLAYER STRATEGY

VIDEO POKER: Church of the Good Hustler The “church of the good hustler” comes from the 1961 movie “The Hustler” starring Paul Newman, Jackie Gleeson, George C. Scott and Piper Laurie.

Some people are hustlers meaning hard workers scrambling their way to the top, but you can also be a prostitute, a pool shark or even a savvy gambler.

Here, of course, I’m referring to the smart casino player who may come up to the line and possibly step on it but won’t cross it. Maybe due to ethics or they’re just too wise to take the risks, but they keep it in the safe zone. I’ve written about the brilliant poker player Phil Ivey and, in my view, he’s a perfect example of a great hustler, especially with his card-sorting brouhaha. (I believe that the courts were gravely mistaken when they ruled in favor of the two casinos involved, one over the pond, the other here, but that’s another story.)

My point is that if the casino is your figurative “church”, then the rules of ethics can be slightly bent to level the playing field. You do need to use good judgment since you don’t want to break laws or suffer the consequences.

House Decisions: Make no mistake, the casino determines the game rules but needs to stay within the bounds of local legislation, and that varies between jurisdictions. If, for example, patrons are foolish enough to play games like 6/5 blackjack (you’re only paid 1.2 times your bet for a blackjack instead of 3/2 or 1.5 times your wager for your BJ), then you can’t blame them for tossing out the hook.

Smart gamblers will simply go elsewhere and make sure the house knows why. The same is true for video poker (VP) which is the focus of this article.

Video Poker (VP): I recently had a bad experience with a formerly great VP casino on Boulder Highway. They used to be the “go to” place for VP with full pay deuces wild (FPDW, ER 100.7620%, Variance, 25.83462) and even had a few progressive 9/6 jacks or better (9/6 JOB, ER 99.5439%, Variance 19.51468) devices.

Those days are gone. Players accept their right to downgrade VP games but expect the house to do so respectfully. This formerly excellent gambling hall has expanded beyond the intentions of antitrust legislation and to the detriment of players and staff. (One purpose of disallowing monopolies was so workers could go elsewhere after a dispute with 18

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their bosses.) For now, they still have some quarter and lower denomination FPDW games, but you receive zero points for cash or comps. Worse yet, their long-time host, Henry, will tell you that they don’t want to reward “players like you” and that their GM, John, is so important that he doesn’t even talk to or correspond with players. (Blah, Blah, Blah about all the casinos they’re buying, a clear violation of Sherman Anti-trust laws, in my opinion.) You can’t change the fact that Las Vegas is a company town, but you can choose to play locally if sin city doesn’t give you a reason to leave Dodge. Benny Binion may have been more than a bit eccentric, but I’ll take his kind of hustle and customer service any day!

VP Pay Schedules: You must always know both the ER (expected return) and the game strategy before you take a seat. My book, The Video Poker Edge, will provide you with the game’s ER and free strategy cards for the most popular games within a casino. (Dean Zamzow’s outstanding software, WinPoker, is excellent for home practice.) If you discover the game’s ER is more than was probably intended, say 101%, it’s probably a glitch made by the tech setting the table, but don’t inform other players. Like Paul Newman and Phil Ivey, be a good hustler and keep the ER to your self and don’t make it too obvious.

Mailer Offers: Even if management is rude and insulting because they want you to play huge house-advantage games, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the offers you’ll get in the mail. Big corporate entities are very compartmentalized so the free stay and play offers will still come your way. The same is true for promotional events.

Always play the game with the best expected return available and ignore the staffers who might want to steer you into playing sucker games.

Final Thoughts: Whether it’s pool, poker, or video poker a good hustler that remains within legal guidelines increases their odds of winning but there are no guarantees. Even if it’s not your day, the drive home is less painful when you know you played smart.

by

LI N DA B OY D

Linda Boyd, a long-time table game player before turning to video poker and writes for Gaming and Destinations and several other gaming publications around the country. You can see her videos on YouTube and her radio interviews are on iTunes.

Boyd’s book, “The Video Poker Edge”, includes free removable pay schedules and her free strategy cards for the most popular games.

“LIKE PAUL NEWMAN AND PHIL IVEY, BE A GOOD HUSTLER AND KEEP THE ER TO YOUR SELF. “

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PLAYER STRATEGY by

FRANK SCOBLETE

CRAPS: Less is Best The table is full of craps players and they are cheering and screaming, or moaning and groaning and there is a communal feel to it all.

We craps players seem at times to be engaging in an ancient ritual almost like animal sacrifice (“roll dem bones!”) as we hang on Lady Luck’s choice for the next number.

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“THE ONLY GOOD “PLACE” BET IS ON THE 6 AND 8 WITH A HOUSE EDGE OF 1.5%.”

Our hearts beat in our chests; our foreheads sweat; the dice fly down the table. Will one of our numbers hit? Or will that dreaded seven show its devilish head and make that slimy player in the corner, that “don’t” or darkside player who is rooting for the seven, a winner?

Look at all the bets all over the table. They are everywhere; in the center, in front of players; in the boxes atop the layout. When a number hits, it takes the dealers several minutes to pay everyone.

It is close to chaos.

And that is when a highly curious phenomenon occurs. As a shooter’s roll continues to hit number after number, otherwise sane, successful people become maniacs in their betting choices; making bets that would take a heated affair with Dame Fortune to win such wagers over even a relatively short period of time.

Some players will make Crazy Crapper bets with house edges of four percent to a whopping 16.67 percent! That means players can expect to lose $4 for every $100 they bet on the former and (hold your breath) $16.67 for every $100 bet on the latter. And there are so many of these Crazy Crapper bets that unfortunately about 90 percent of the craps playing aficionados will make them, heedless of the damage they are doing to their bankrolls.

People who have been involved in riots will usually tell you that a kind of instinctive inner beast is released during such events and that this beast seems to repress the higher functioning and reasonable parts of the human brain. Just such a response exists at a craps table.

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You can get caught up in the whirl of it all if you are not careful. If craps were weather it would be a tornado – in fact it is a tornado of minds swirling around looking to destroy things, those things being their money and their emotions. It is tough to be the only one thinking at the craps

table when everyone else is in a state of riot but it is something a smart player must do – he must keep himself in check in order to keep his bankroll in check.

Players who make poor decisions at craps; those who bet foolishly on those high house-edge wagers are doomed to sooner or later (probably sooner!) taste the ashes of defeat in a big way. No one can beat the game of craps or even reduce the hit from craps by making outlandish bets. Such bets are tantamount to trying to stop a car from moving at 100 miles per hour by putting your body under the front wheels.

So what bets should you avoid? My simplest answer is – almost all of them. Chuck away bets such as the hardways, the horn, the whirl, the 12, the 2, the 11, the 3, the field, the C&E, the placing of the 4 and 10, the placing of the 5 and 9 and all of the hop bets. They stink.

Instead, focus on bets that give you a very close contest with the house, a contest so close you have a decent chance to not only save your bankroll but come home ahead quite often. What bets are these? The Pass Line and Come bets (1.4 percent house edge), the Don’t Pass Line and Don’t Come bets (about a 1.4 percent house edge), adding the Odds bet (zero percent house edge) when these bets go up on numbers. You can reduce the house edge to tenths of a percent by playing the above bets with odds.

The only good “place” bet is on the 6 and 8 which comes in with a house edge of 1.5 percent. You can also make a rule that you will never bet anything that comes in with a house edge of more than two percent.

Now, when the mania starts at a table, think of those wild-eyed craps players as lemmings literally thinking a good time is jumping off a cliff into the sea. The fall down the side of the mountain, with that fresh ocean air hitting their faces, might seem fun for awhile, but then they must hit the drink…and drown or splatter on the rocks.

I guess the bottom line here is this: Don’t be a lemming. It only seems like fun to fall off a cliff… it usually ends up awful.

G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

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SPORTS BETTING STRATEGY: KEEP IT SIMPLE by

JASON BALES

MGM Grand Sportsbook in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Sports betting is quickly gaining

Both retail (at a physical, licensed location)

2018, the United States Supreme Court

confusing for beginners. There are so many

popularity all over the world. In May of

and mobile (online) sports betting can be

STOP LOOKING FOR WINNERS, START LOOKING FOR VALUE

ruled that the Professional and Amateur

different betting possibilities - spreads,

law that prohibited states from allowing

teasers, game and player props, etc. - that

Undoing that federal mandate does not

is a daunting task. Sprinkle in the fast-

legal in all 50 states, but states are legally

beginners are in for a frustrating sports-

betting without the permission of the

Fortunately, this article guides potential

Imagine John Doe struts into the casino

process, helping them walk into the

on 10 different football teams. The NFL

Sports Protection Act (PASPA), a federal

moneylines, over/unders, totals, parlays,

sports betting, is unconstitutional.

identifying which bets are valuable or not

mean that sports betting is currently

paced environment of most casinos and

allowed to authorize and regulate sports

betting experience.

federal government. To date, sports betting is legal in 16 states and the

District of Columbia. Those states include Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey,

Rhode Island, Tennessee, Oregon, New

Hampshire, Nevada, Montana, Iowa, West Virginia, Indiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Delaware, and Illinois.

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sports bettors through the sports betting casino or log on to their sportsbook with more confidence and readiness. These

tips and strategies assume a basic sports

The biggest mistake that novice sports

bettors make is deciding which bets to make based on who he or she thinks

will win a game. It isn’t that picking the winning team is the wrong strategy, but

rather that when sports bettors are looking for winners, they’re not looking for value.

Let’s consider an example.

on Sunday with $1,000, ready to bet it all is having an unusually lopsided week, and

John finds 10 favorites that he is ‘sure’ will

win (Hint: nothing is a sure thing is sports

betting knowledge, such as what spreads,

betting). All the favorites that he picks are

to it.

decides to bet the moneylines. For every

moneylines, and over/unders are. Let’s get

-500 to defeat their opponents, and John

team that wins, John earns $20. For every

team that loses, John suffers a loss of $100.

For every five games that John accurately predicts, one underdog victory sets him

back to even. If John wins 8-of-10 bets on Sunday, he loses $40.

Value matters more than winners.

FINDING VALUE If value matters so much, how do you find it? There are a variety of methods that experienced sports bettors use to isolate value bets. While some methods require complicated and expensive algorithms to shift through decades worth of data and populate the best bets each day, others are simple and more novice-friendly.

Three methods all beginner sports bettors should know include shopping on different sportsbooks, analyzing bet and money percentages, and identifying usable betting trends.

LET THE SPORTSBOOKS DO THE WORK Finding bets with good value is difficult.

Why not allow the sportsbooks to do the work for you? If utilized properly, “shopping the books,” as the betting industry terms it, is one of the easiest ways

to isolate valuable bets.

For example, let’s take a look at three of the biggest sportsbooks in the United States - DraftKings, FanDuel, and Bovada. This strategy assumes the sportsbooks being compared to each other are all relatively good at what they do, which is setting optimal lines. If DraftKings and FanDuel both have the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons spread set at 8.5 points, but Bovada has the same spread set at 6.5 points, there is likely value in betting the favorite.

Conversely, if Bovada has the spread set at 10.5 points, there is likely value in betting the underdog.

The more sportsbooks utilized in this process, the better the results. This method is especially useful when betting live, in-game spreads and totals. Be careful, though! The sportsbooks always operate 30 seconds ahead of bettors due to the television delay, so only bet live, in-game spreads and totals during timeouts or commercials.

TURN TO THE PROFESSIONALS This sports betting method involves modesty. Professional sports bettors wager on sporting events for a living. They are

better at what they do than the novices.

Thus, figuring out which directions the professionals are betting in certain games allows novice bettors to “tail,” or copy, those bets.

While some professionals offer their bets via online subscriptions, figuring out where the “sharp,” or professional, money is headed isn’t that complicated. First, find a website that offers bet and money percentages, such as Action Network. A bet percentage is the number of betting tickets coming in on a certain team. For example, the Charlotte Hornets might be receiving 56% of the bets, and their opponent, the Golden State Warriors, 44% of the bets. A money percentage is how much of the public’s money is headed in each direction. Even though the Hornets secured 56% of the betting tickets, they might only have 37% of the money. That leaves the Warriors with 63% of the money. This suggests that bettors with larger bankrolls are betting heavily on the Warriors, an indication that the sharp money is on Golden State.

A similar method that helps identify which direction the sharp money is going is looking for reverse line movement.

From the previous example, assume the Warriors opened as 5-point underdogs

The sportsbook at Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi.

G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

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TAP Book, Bar & Bistreaux at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.

against the Hornets. That means when Vegas originally set the spread, the Hornets were favored by 5 points. If the Warriors move from 5-point underdogs to 2-point underdogs, but the bet percentage is in favor of the Hornets, that’s called reverse line movement. The line moved in a direction that disagrees with the public.

Reverse line movement is a strong indicator of a certain team gaining sharp money.

IDENTIFY BETTING TRENDS Another popular sports betting strategy is to identify betting trends that could give knowledgeable sports bettors an advantage over the general public. Bookmakers want spreads and moneylines to be as even as possible, in order to get the same amount of money on each side of every bet. If each side has the same amount of money, the sportsbook always wins because an “even bet” is actually -110 on both sides.

The leftover money goes directly to the sportsbook as a betting fee. If one side gets too heavy, the sportsbook is at risk of losing money if the side with more money wins.

This creates a positive betting environment for sports bettors that understand public tendencies. For example, according to 22

| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M

Sports Insights, when one team garners at least 80% of the bets, the other team wins against the spread 53.2% of the time.

When the other team is also the underdog, the figure climbs to 56% since 2003. This is a betting trend that helps sports bettors win over the long-term, and it is all about human psychology! It’s human nature to lean toward teams that are expected to win when betting because of team popularity and recognition. When betting total points, it’s human nature to bet over more frequently than under because rooting for scoring is more fun than rooting against it.

There are more specific trends that may or may not help sports bettors, but always consider the sample size. For example, the Denver Broncos are 3-11 against the spread in roads games played on a grass field over the last three seasons. 14 games is not enough to establish a causal connection, however, the Green Bay Packers are 198-143 against the spread in games played on a grass field since 1992.

The Packers are also 70-44 against the spread in December games since 1992 and 64-41 in the last four weeks of the regular season since 1992. If the Packers are playing on a grass field in December during one of the last four weeks of the

season, sports bettors might have enough evidence to support targeting the Packers.

I hope these tips and strategies help your game day wagers!

WAGERING RECAP Stop looking for the winning team.

Finding value is a much more effective strategy when attempting to identify profitable bets.

Shop for the best available bets on various sportsbooks. Certain sportsbooks might lag behind others in terms of updating after player injuries or other related news.

This is an easy way to find value bets.

Analyze money and bet percentages, as well as reverse line movement, to track which bets the professionals are most confident in. Always follow the sharp money, not public money.

Utilize betting trends to find an edge on the general public. Remember, casual bettors tend to favor both favorites and overs. Avoid betting in that direction solely because higher scoring games are more fun to watch.

Constantly examine your betting strategies to ensure they are working long-term.

FUTURE ODDS Check out the latest odds for major sporting events. For the latest up-to-the-minute odds, visit GamingandDestinations.com NFL SUPER BOWL LIV – FEBRUARY 2, 2020 HARD ROCK STADIUM – MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA Team

Baltimore Ravens

January November September July

3/1

New Orleans Saints

4/1

Kansas City Chiefs

8/1

New England Patriots 4/1

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Green Bay Packers

Minnesota Vikings

Houston Texans

NBA CHAMPIONSHIP – JUNE, 15, 2020

8/1

8/1

12/1

20/1

20/1

N/A

8/1

9/5

6/1

14/1

18/1

16/1

20/1

N/A

N/A

10/1

6/1

6/1

30/1

N/A

20/1

20/1

N/A

N/A

10/1

6/1

10/1

30/1

N/A

25/1

25/1

N/A

*All others higher than 30/1. **Odds courtesy of Vegasinsider.com

NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP – APRIL, 6, 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM – ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Team

January November

Los Angeles Lakers

5/2

Los Angeles Clippers Milwaukee Bucks

Philadelphia 76ers Houston Rockets Denver Nuggets Boston Celtics

Toronto Raptors

Dallas Mavericks Miami Heat

Oregon Ducks Baylor Bears

Maryland Terrapins

Ohio State Buckeyes Gonzaga Bulldogs Virginia Cavaliers

14/1

40/1

100/1

60/1

100/1

100/1

8/1

6/1

THE MASTERS – APRIL 9, 2020 AUGUSTA NATIONAL – AUGUSTA, GEORGIA

10/1

8/1

Brooks Koepka

9/1

Tiger Woods

12/1

Rory McIlroy

Florida Gators

25/1

*All others higher than 60/1. **Odds courtesy of Vegasinsider.com

7/1

Arizona Wildcats

16/1

50/1

Golfer

Michigan Wolverines

8/1

40/1

14/1

North Carolina Tar Heels

8/1

18/1

Utah Jazz

10/1

Duke Blue Devils

6/1

4/1

18/1

Louisville Cardinals Kentucky Wildcats

5/1

8/1

January November

Kansas Jayhawks

7/2

8/1

Team

Michigan State Spartans

5/2

12/1

12/1 16/1

20/1

20/1

20/1 20/1

20/1

20/1

20/1

24/1 25/1

10/1

10/1

N/A

N/A 16/1

30/1

40/1

40/1

40/1 25/1

20/1

*All others higher than 25/1. **Odds courtesy of Vegasinsider.com

7077 Elmore Avenue, Davenport, IA 52807 rhythmcitycasino.com | 563.328.8000 | 1.844.852.4FUN |

Justin Thomas Dustin Johnson

Justin Rose

Rickie Fowler John Rahm

Jordan Spieth Patrick Cantalay

Xander Schauffele

Tommy Fleetwood

Tony Finau

January

10/1

16/1

18/1 18/1 18/1 18/1

20/1 20/1 25/1

30/1

30/1

*All others higher than 30/1. **Odds courtesy of Vegasinsider.com

Now Open!

G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

23

MIDWEST

CASINO DIRECTORY WEBSITE

Below is a list of our preferred properties of the Midwest showcasing some of the great things that each property has.

PHONE NUMBER

*CC PARTNER

TABLES

MACHINES

•

40

1,600

KENTUCKY CHURCHILL DOWNS RACETRACK

KYDERBY.COM

502-636-4400

INDIANA BELTERRA CASINO RESORT & SPA

BELTERRACASINO.COM

888-235-8377

RISING STAR CASINO RESORT

RISINGSTARCASINO.COM

812-438-1234

29

897

INDIANA GRAND CASINO

INDIANAGRAND.COM

877-386-4463

50

2,000+

HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO, SIOUX CITY

HARDROCKCASINOSIOUXCITY.COM

712-226-7600

25

839

RIVERSIDE CASINO & GOLF RESORT

RIVERSIDECASINOANDRESORT.COM

877-677-3456

32

1,150

RHYTHM CITY CASINO RESORT

RHYTHMCITYCASINO.COM

844-852-4386

35

850

SOARINGEAGLECASINO.COM

888-732-4537

79

3,056

IOWA •

MICHIGAN SOARING EAGLE CASINO & RESORT MGM GRAND DETROIT

MGMGRANDDETROIT.COM

877-888-2121

98

4,000

ISLAND RESORT AND CASINO

ISLANDRESORTANDCASINO.COM

800-682-6040

14

1,200

FIREKEEPERS CASINO HOTEL - BATTLECREEK

FIREKEEPERSCASINO.COM

877-352-8777

70

2,900

BLACK BEAR CASINO RESORT

BLACKBEARCASINORESORT.COM

888-771-0777

14

1,850

TREASURE ISLAND RESORT & CASINO

TICASINO.COM

800-222-7077

44

2,200

GRAND CASINO HINCKLEY

GRANDCASINOMN.COM

800-472-6321

44

3,500

GRAND CASINO MILLE LACS

GRANDCASINOMN.COM

800-626-5825

30

3,100

AMERISTAR CASINO HOTEL KANSAS CITY

AMERISTAR.COM/KANSAS-CITY

816-414-7000

115

2,300

LUMIERE PLACE CASINO AND HOTELS

LUMIEREPLACE.COM

877-450-7711

55

1,600

RIVER CITY CASINO & HOTEL, ST. LOUIS

RIVERCITY.COM

888-578-7289

54

2,000

JACKENTERTAINMENT.COM/CINCINNATI

513-252-0777

100

2,000

MINNESOTA

MISSOURI

OHIO JACK CASINO CINCINNATI HOLLYWOOD CASINO COLUMBUS

HOLLYWOODCOLUMBUS.COM

614-308-3333

76

2,200

JACK CASINO CLEVELAND

JACKENTERTAINMENT.COM/CLEVELAND

216-297-4777

100

1,600

HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO, TULSA

HARDROCKCASINOTULSA.COM

800-760-6700

40

2,600

WINSTAR CASINO & RESORT

WINSTARWORLDCASINO.COM

580-276-4229

97

7,400

HO-CHUNK GAMING, WITTENBERG

HO-CHUNKGAMING.COM/WITTENBERG

715-253-4400

HO-CHUNK GAMING, BLACK RIVER FALLS

HO-CHUNKGAMING.COM/BLACKRIVERFALLS

800-657-4621

HO-CHUNK GAMING, TOMAH

OKLAHOMA

WISCONSIN

24

517 10

634

50

1,832

HO-CHUNKGAMING.COM/TOMAH

866-880-9822

HO-CHUNK GAMING, WISCONSIN DELLS

HO-CHUNKGAMING.COM/WISCONSINDELLS

800-746-2486

HO-CHUNK GAMING, MADISON

HO-CHUNKGAMING.COM/MADISON

608-223-9576

HO-CHUNK GAMING, NEKOOSA

HO-CHUNKGAMING.COM/NEKOOSA

800-782-4560

50

650

NORTH STAR CASINO RESORT

NORTHSTARCASINORESORT.COM

800-952-0195

16

1,200

LAKE OF THE TORCHES

LAKEOFTHETORCHES.COM

800-258-6724

8

837

POTAWATOMI HOTEL & CASINO

PAYSBIG.COM

800-729-7244

100

3,000

| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M

96

1,200

* CC Partner means the property provides coupons and special offers to members of the Comps Club. For more information, visit Thecompsclub.com

# OF ROOMS

ENT. VENUE

GOLF

SPA

POOL

689

•

•

•

•

294

•

•

54

•

201

• •

•

•

243

• • • •

408

•

•

788

•

•

•

•

967

• •

•

•

• •

•

INDOOR

•

• •

116

517 400 328

967

294

• •

200

•

184

•

•

•

• •

INDOOR

•

• • •

• • • INDOOR

INDOOR

184 294 200

454 1,500

• •

• •

86 140

•

302

• •

129

• • •

100 391

• •

•

•

• INDOOR

G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

25

WIN THE

ULTIMATE

GAMBLING

GETAWAY 2020

Each year, Midwest Gaming and Destinations gives you the opportunity to reward the properties that take care of you the most with our Readers’ Choice Awards. You get to cast your vote for everything from rooms to restaurants, as well as have the chance to win the Ultimate Gambling Getaway to the casino of your choice.

Simply fill out the voting ballot and mail it in for your chance to win...Good Luck!

THIS YEAR’S PRIZE PACKAGE INCLUDES: • •

• • • •

A ONE-NIGHT STAY AT THE CASINO OF YOUR CHOICE DINNER FOR TWO AT THE PREMIUM RESTAURANT AT THE PROPERTY. (EXCLUDES ALCOHOL) $100 CASINO PLAY $100 GAS CARD 2 BUFFETS YOUR TRIP RECAP PUBLISHED IN SOUTHERN GAMING AND DESTINATIONS MAGAZINE

IT’S EASY TO ENTER!

Choose your favorite casino from each category. Mail in your ballot and you will be entered to win the getaway! Or, complete the ballot online at GamingandDestinations.com to also be entered into the drawing.

Don’t miss out – the voting deadline is February 28, 2020.

*One vote per person. Duplicate entries will result in disqualification. Faxes and copies are not accepted. All field required. Mark N/A if a category is not applicable to you. If you do not have an e-mail address, please provide a phone number. All entries must be postmarked by February 28, 2020.

26

| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M

VOTE! MAIL! WIN! Pick your favorite Midwest properties from each category below, mail it in and you will be entered for the getaway!

Or, vote online at GamingandDestinations.com

First Name:

Last Name:

Address: City:

E-mail:

State:

Zip:

Phone Number:

Date of Birth:

What are your favorite states to play? (Circle all that apply) Illinois | Indiana | Ohio | Oklahoma | Iowa | Kansas | Michigan | Minnesota | Missouri | South Dakota | Wisconsin | Other: __________________ Do you subscribe to Gaming and Destinations?

Yes

No

Are you a member of The Comps ClubTM?

Yes

No

What games do you like to play the most?

Blackjack

Craps

Slots/Video Poker

Poker

Pari-mutuel (Horses)

Other:

What kind of comps do you typically receive from casinos?

None, they are stingy

Free Buffet

Match Play Offers

Free Rooms

Whatever I want, I’m a high roller!

TELL US YOUR FAVORITE CASINOS IN THE CATEGORIES BELOW. CATEGORY:

Your Favorite Property:

State:

1. Best Overall Property: 2. Best New Casino/Casino Renovation: 3. Best Racetrack/Racino Facility: (Horse Racing/Greyhound Racing)

4.

Best Suites:

5. Best Rooms: 6. Best Casino Floor: (Game Variety/Options)

7.

Best Poker Room:

8. Best Restaurant: (Include Name of Restaurant and Property)

9.

Best Buffet:

10. Best Amenities: (Spa, Pool, Shopping, etc.)

11. Best Golf Course: 12. Best Entertainment: 13. Best Entertainment Venue: 14. Best Nightlife: (Night Club, Lounge, etc.)

15. Best Theme: 16. Best Casino Personnel: (Dealers, Slot Attendants, Hosts, Waitresses, etc.)

17. Best Customer Service: 18. Best Advertising: (Radio, Television, Billboards, etc.)

19. Best Players Club: 20. Best Slot Machine Game: 21. Best Sportsbook: *One vote per person. Duplicate entries will result in disqualification. Faxes and copies are not accepted. All fields required. Mark N/A if a category is not applicable to you. If you do not have an email address, please provide a phone number. All entries must be postmarked by February 28, 2020.

G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

27

2020

A

RDS

G& D

R

S' C H O I C E

WA

E

ER AD

WIN THE ULTIMATE GETAWAY TO THE

Casino of Your Choice!

MAIL IN YOUR BALLOT

TODAY!

FOLD HERE AND TUCK IN FIRST

POSTAGE REQUIRED POST OFFICE WILL NOT DELIVER WITHOUT PROPER POSTAGE

2020 G&D READERS' CHOICE AWARDS 136 St. Matthews Ave. #300 Louisville, KY 40207

FOLD HERE

Want Casino Comps?

Join The Comps ClubTM by Gaming and Destinations and we’ll send you coupons and special offers to casinos and racetracks throughout the region! Don’t delay, join today!

CALL 502-212-5177 OR VISIT GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM

| G| ASMOI U 28 28 NTGHAENRDNDGEASM T I N AT IO G.C ON MS . C O M

G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

29

Introducing the highly anticipated extensions of our award-winning Smokin’ Hot Stuff Wicked Wheel™ game on a brand new cabinet. Wicked Wheel Panda™ and Wicked Wheel Fire Phoenix™ on Empire Flex™.

49-inch flexed display. Striking 4K content. Industry-unique integrated light bars. Larger enhanced glass button deck. Another example of our unrelenting commitment to innovation.

Trailblaze new player experiences. everi.com 30

| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M

Let’s go!

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