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2020 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS ...THE RESULTS ARE IN! PAGE 4 PLUS: TIPS ON BLACKJACK • CRAPS • VIDEO POKER & MORE!
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LETTER
from the Publisher
UP FRONT with G. DOUGLAS
PUBLISHER
Gaming Media Group Inc. PRESIDENT
G. Douglas Dreisbach
What a crazy time we are living in. With Covid-19 ravaging our country and the uprisings and calls to action of social and racial justice, we are enduring challenges that we have never seen before. Fold in the political spins and this being an election year, and you have a recipe for mass chaos. There is so much hate and criticism among people today. When it comes to Covid-19, how can someone be so critical about our leaders and their decisions for trying to prevent the spread of the virus, and more deaths. Our leaders are not doctors. They follow recommendations from the medical professionals who are giving them recommendations. These are the best medical professionals in the world yet have never seen this type of virus or global health crisis. So, while some of the decisions and protocols we see may seem ridiculous and medial, to say they are wrong, or right, is just as much of a guess as anyone’s. As I write this, we are seeing major spikes in Covid-19 cases in areas where there have been mass gatherings of crowds, further verifying that maybe the measures our leaders put in place were not wrong in the first place. Whether it is college kids at pool parties or protesters marching the streets, large crowds can’t be good for reducing the spread of the virus. Then, just when we start figuring out new routines and lifestyles to help ‘flatten the curve’, multiple incidents concerning irresponsible 2
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actions from select police officers that resulted in pointless deaths have ignited major movements for change in regards to social and racial equality and the way we govern this land. Personally, I am all for standing up and voicing your opinion. I am all for social and racial equality and think the discussions that are now being made are justified, needed, and overdue. I am for making this nation stronger through thoughtful conversations on change and what that looks like. I am not for bad cops or people who destroy our cities and disrespect our great nation. There are far more good cops than bad, and many more stories of our policemen and women doing good than doing bad, however the media will show a different story. And as for the looters and destroyers, they are undermining the voices of those who are trying to make their voices heard and have legitimate interest in changing this nation for the better, in a constructive and proactive way.
FOUNDING PUBLISHER
Whatever the future holds for us, I am ready to get there. Ready to get back to routines. Ready to get back to planning vacations and casino getaways. When we get to the casinos, they will look different and there will be some inconveniences like wearing masks, glass dividers, distancing on the casino floor and more. Let’s embrace these new safety precautions and understand that the alternative is closing again, and none of us want that.
Gaming and Destinations is published
So, for what it’s worth, I hope that we get to our new normal sooner than later, and that all of you stay safe and healthy on our journey there. As always…if you can’t be good…be lucky!
Larry Bisig LAYOUT AND DESIGN
Hill Harcourt CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS
Linda Boyd Frank Scoblete Brandi Marcene 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.
for those who seek the best in gaming and in life, and is produced bimonthly by Gaming Media Group Inc. of Louisville, Kentucky. Copyright 2017 by Gaming Media Group Inc. 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 Gaming and Destinations assume liability for claims of advertisers. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes
to Gaming and Destinations, 136 St. Matthews Ave. #300
G. Douglas Dreisbach President & Publisher
Louisville, KY 40207 ON THE COVER:
The results are in for the 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards. Check out the winners on page 4.
CONTENTS ON THE COVER
4
Readers’ Choice Awards: Winners Revealed The results are in for our winning properties!
5 Gulf Coast 6 Tunica 8 Louisiana 9 Mid-South 10 Indiana 11 Missouri
ARTICLES & EDITORIAL HIGHLIGHTS & HOT SPOTS:
12 Hot Slots from EVERI: The latest and greatest from the leading slot manufacturer.
22 Casino Directory:
14 Clean Casinos:
What to expect on your next visit.
18 Executive Spotlight:
Travis Lunn: President & CEO for MGM Mississippi Properties
Our preferred properties and attractions.
24 Sports Wagering:
Find the future odds on major sporting events.
WINNING TIPS AND STRATEGIES
20 Video Poker:
Mad at Your Money
21 Losing the Lottery:
Gambling and The Government
4 18
12
14 Find us on Facebook
@MidwestCasinos 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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THE R E S U LT S ARE IN
2020 MIDWEST GAMING
READERS’ CHOICE AWARD WINNERS
THE MID-WEST REGION The great Midwest region of the United States offers just about anything a gambler would want and covers states ranging from Indiana to Minnesota, and everything in between. Detroit has multiple great properties within close proximity of each other but most of the casinos in this region are destination style resorts that casino enthusiasts can plan a multiple day stay in the lap of luxury. Our annual Readers’ Choice Awards is designed to showcase the different areas for gaming and options in categories that will introduce gamers of any type to properties they may not already be familiar with, and to help plan their next casino visit. A full-list of awards and contact information can be found at GamingandDestinations.com With our awards each year, we also give away the Ultimate Casino Getaway to a lucky voter that includes premium overnight casino stay, gambling money, dinner and travel money to get there. This year’s winner is Dave B. from Kentucky. We can’t wait to hear about the trip! Thanks to the 20,000 voters who took the time to share their opinions. We hope you enjoy this year’s awards and find a few new casinos to add to your ‘favorites’ list. 4
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF BEST OVERALL PROPERTIES OF THE MIDWEST INCLUDING (CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT) NORTH STAR MOHICAN CASINO RESORT (WISCONSIN), TREASURE ISLAND RESORT & CASINO (MINNESOTA), FOUR WINDS CASINO NEW BUFFALO (MICHIGAN), AND LUMIERE PLACE CASINO & HOTEL (MISSOURI). CHECK OUT ALL THE WINNERS FROM THE MIDWEST AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!
MICHIGAN
SPA
CASINO PERSONNEL
1. MGM Grand Casino Resort
1. Island Resort & Casino
2. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
2. Firekeepers Casino Hotel 3. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
POOL 1. Island Resort & Casino
CUSTOMER SERVICE
2. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
1. MGM Grand Casino Resort
3. Firekeepers Casino Hotel
2. Four Winds Casino New Buffalo 3. Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel
ENTERTAINMENT 1. Firekeepers Casino Hotel
ADVERTISING
2. Island Resort & Casino
1. Firekeepers Casino Hotel
3. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
2. MGM Grand Casino Resort
ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
3. Island Resort & Casino
1. Four Winds Casino New Buffalo 2. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Best Overall Property: Firekeepers Casino Hotel
3. Firekeepers Casino Hotel
CASINO FLOOR 1. MGM Grand Casino Resort
1 FIREKEEPERS
CASINO HOTEL
2 SOARING
EAGLE CASINO & RESORT
3 MGM
GRAND CASINO RESORT
2. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
3. Motor City Casino Hotel
1. Firekeepers Casino Hotel
GOLF COURSE
2. Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel
1. Island Resort & Casino
3. MGM Grand Casino Resort
2. Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel
3. Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel POKER ROOM 1. MGM Grand Casino Resort 2. Firekeepers Casino Hotel 3. Island Resort & Casino
SUITES
RESTAURANT
1. Firekeepers Casino Hotel
1. Firekeepers Casino Hotel
2. MGM Grand Casino Resort
2. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
3. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
3. Island Resort & Casino
ROOMS
BUFFET
1. MGM Grand Casino Resort
1. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
2. Four Winds Casino New Buffalo
2. Firekeepers Casino Hotel
3. Island Resort & Casino
3. Four Winds Casino New Buffalo
1. MGM Grand Casino Resort 2. Island Resort & Casino
NIGHTLIFE BEST OVERALL PROPERTY
PLAYER’S CLUB
THEME 1. Island Resort & Casino 2. Four Winds Casino New Buffalo 3. Motor City Casino Hotel
Best Rooms: MGM Grand Casino Resort
Best Pool: Island Resort & Casino
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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WISCONSIN
NIGHTLIFE
ADVERTISING
1. North Star Mohican
1. North Star Mohican
Casino Resort
Casino Resort
2. Menominee Casino Resort
2. Menominee Casino Resort
3. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
3. Lake of the Torches Casino Resort
THEME 1. St. Croix Turtle Lake
PLAYER’S CLUB
2. Ho-Chunk Gaming Black
1. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
River Falls 3. Lake of the Torches Casino
2. Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls
CASINO PERSONNEL
Casino Resort
1. North Star Mohican Casino Resort
GOLF COURSE
2. Lake of the Torches Casino
1. North Star Mohican Casino
3. St. Croix Turtle Lake
2. Oneida Casino
CUSTOMER SERVICE 1. Ho-Chunk Gaming Best Overall Property: North Star Mohican Casino
BEST OVERALL PROPERTY
1 NORTH
STAR MOHICAN CASINO POTAWATOMI HOTEL & CASINO 2
LAKE OF THE TORCHES CASINO 3
Wisconsin Dells 2. Ho-Chunk Gaming Black BUFFET 1. North Star Mohican Casino Resort 2. Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls 3. Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells
3. Menominee Casino Resort
1. North Star Mohican Casino Resort 2. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino POOL
ROOMS
1. Menominee Casino Resort
1. Menominee Casino Resort
2. Lake of the Torches Casino Resort
2. North Star Mohican Casino Resort 3. Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls CASINO FLOOR 1. Lake of the Torches Casino 2. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
3. Ho-Chunk Gaming Wisconsin Dells ENTERTAINMENT 1. North Star Mohican Casino Resort 2. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
3. Menominee Casino Resort
3. Menominee Casino Resort
POKER ROOM
ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
1. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
1. Lake of the Torches Casino
2. Lake of the Torches Casino Resort
3. Menominee Casino Resort
3. St. Croix Turtle Lake
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Best Player’s Club: Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
2. Lake of the Torches Casino
1. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino 3. Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls
3. Lake of the Torches Casino Resort
1. Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
SPA
2. Menominee Casino Resort
River Falls
RESTAURANT
SUITES
2. North Star Mohican Casino
Best Golf: North Star Mohican Casino
3. North Star Mohican
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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IOWA
ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1. Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort
1. Rhythm City Casino Resort
2. Rhythm City Casino Resort
3. Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf
2. Lakeside Hotel & Casino
3. Hard Rock Sioux City ADVERTISING NIGHTLIFE
1. Rhythm City Casino Resort
1. Hard Rock Sioux City
2. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
2. Rhythm City Casino Resort
3. WinnaVegas Casino Resort
3. Horseshoe Casino – Council Bluffs PLAYER’S CLUB THEME 1. Hard Rock Sioux City 2. Rhythm City Casino Resort Best Overall Property: Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort BEST OVERALL PROPERTY
GRAND FALLS CASINO & GOLF RESORT 1
RIVERSIDE CASINO & GOLF RESORT 2
3 HARD ROCK SIOUX CITY
RESTAURANT 1. Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort 2. Hard Rock Sioux City
3. WinnaVegas Casino Resort
CASINO PERSONNEL 1. Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs 2. Lakeside Hotel & Casino 3. Rhythm City Casino Resort
3. Rhythm City Casino Resort BUFFET
Best Rooms: Hard Rock Sioux City
1. Rhythm City Casino Resort 2. Lakeside Hotel & Casino 3. Hard Rock Sioux City
SUITES 1. Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort
SPA 1. Rhythm City Casino Resort
2. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
2. Grand Falls Casino & Golf Res
3. Hard Rock Sioux City
3. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
ROOMS 1. Hard Rock Sioux City 2. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort 3. Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort CASINO FLOOR 1. Rhythm City Casino Resort 2. Hard Rock Sioux City 3. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
POKER ROOM 1. WinnaVegas Casino Resort 2. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort 3. Horseshoe Casino - Council Bluffs
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POOL 1. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort 2. Hard Rock Sioux City 3. Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort GOLF COURSE 1. Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort 2. Riverside Casino & Golf Resort ENTERTAINMENT 1. Hard Rock Sioux City 2. Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort 3. Rhythm City Casino Resort
Best Casino Floor: Rhythm City Casino Resort
1. Ameristar Casino Council Bluff 2. Hard Rock Sioux City 3. Riverside Casino & Golf
MINNESOTA
ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
CASINO PERSONNEL
1. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
1. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
2. Treasure Island Resort Casino
2. Treasure Island Resort Casino
3. Black Bear Casino Resort
3. Grand Casino Hinckley
NIGHTLIFE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
1. Black Bear Casino Resort
2. Treasure Island Resort Casino
2. Treasure Island Resort Casino
3. Grand Casino Hinckley
3. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
PLAYER’S CLUB
ADVERTISING
1. Treasure Island Resort Casino
1. Treasure Island Resort Casino
2. Black Bear Casino Resort
2. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
3. Grand Casino Mille Lacs
3. Fortune Bay Resort Casino
THEME 1. Treasure Island Resort Casino 2. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel Best Overall Property: Treasure Island Resort Casino
BEST OVERALL PROPERTY
TREASURE ISLAND RESORT CASINO 1
2 FORTUNE BAY RESORT CASINO 3 BLACK
BEAR CASINO RESORT
SUITES
3. Fortune Bay Resort Casino
RESTAURANT 1. Fortune Bay Resort Casino 2. Black Bear Casino Resort 3. Treasure Island Resort Casino
BUFFET 1. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel 2. Black Bear Casino Resort 3. Fortune Bay Resort Casino SPA
1. Treasure Island Resort Casino
1. Treasure Island Resort Casino
2. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
2. Mystic Lake Casino Hote
3. Grand Casino Hinckley
ROOMS 1. Fortune Bay Resort Casino
Best Pool: Treasure Island Resort Casino
POOL 1. Treasure Island Resort Casino 2. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel 3. Grand Casino Hinckle
Best Casino Floor: Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
2. Grand Casino Hinckley 3. Treasure Island Resort Casino
CASINO FLOOR 1. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel
GOLF 1. Treasure Island Resort Casino 2. Mystic Lake Casino Hotel 3. Fortune Bay Resort Casino
2. Treasure Island Resort Casino 3. Grand Casino Hinckleyy
ENTERTAINMENT 1. Grand Casino Mille Lacs
POKER ROOM
2. Treasure Island Resort Casino 3. Fortune Bay Resort Casino
1. Fortune Bay Resort Casino 2. Treasure Island Resort Casino 3. St. Croix Casino Turtle Lake
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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INDIANA
ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1. Belterra Casino Resort
1. Rising Star Casino Resort
2. Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
2. Belterra Casino Resort
3. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa
3. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa
NIGHTLIFE
SPORTSBOOK
1. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa
1. Belterra Casino Resort
2. Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg
2. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa
3. Belterra Casino Resort
3. French Lick Resort
THEME
PLAYER’S CLUB
1. Hollywood Casino
1. Belterra Casino Resort
Lawrenceburg 2. Rising Star Casino Resort 3. French Lick Resort CASINO PERSONNEL Best Overall Property: Belterra Casino Resort
1. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa 2. Four Winds - New Buffalo
BEST OVERALL PROPERTY
RESTAURANT
3. French Lick Resort
1. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa
BELTERRA CASINO RESORT
2. Belterra Casino Resort
2
BLUE CHIP CASINO HOTEL SPA
BUFFET
3
FRENCH LICK RESORT
1
3. French Lick Resort Best Suites: Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa
1. Caesars Southern Indiana 2. Belterra Casino Resort 3. Hollywood Casino
SUITES 1. Belterra Casino Resort 2. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa 3. Four Winds - New Buffalo
Lawrenceburg SPA 1. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa 2. French Lick Resort
ROOMS 1. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa 2. Four Winds - New Buffalo 3. Belterra Casino Resort
3. Belterra Casino Resort POOL 1. Belterra Casino Resort 2. French Lick Resort
CASINO FLOOR 1. Caesars Southern Indiana 2. Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg 3. Indiana Grand Racing & Casino
3. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa GOLF COURSE 1. Belterra Casino Resort 2. French Lick Resort 3. Rising Star Casino Resort
POKER ROOM 1. Caesars Southern Indiana 2. Hollywood Casino Lawrenceburg 3. Horseshoe Hammond
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ENTERTAINMENT 1. Belterra Casino Resort 2. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa 3. French Lick Resort
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Best Pool: Belterra Casino Resort
2. Blue Chip Casino Hotel Spa 3. Caesars Southern Indiana
MISSOURI
CUSTOMER SERVICE
PLAYER’S CLUB
1. River City Casino & Hotel
1. Ameristar St. Charles
2. Ameristar St. Charles
2. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
3. Hollywood Casino St. Louis
3. River City Casino & Hotel
ADVERTISING 1. River City Casino & Hotel 2. Hollywood Casino St. Louis 3. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
THEME 1. River City Casino & Hotel 2. Hollywood Casino St. Louis 3. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
Best Overall Spa: Ameristar Casino Resort Spa
Best Overall Property: Ameristar St. Charles
BEST OVERALL PROPERTY
RESTAURANT 1. Ameristar St. Charles
1
AMERISTAR ST. CHARLES
2. River City Casino & Hotel 3. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
LUMIERE PLACE CASINO & HOTEL 2
RIVER CITY CASINO & HOTEL 3
BUFFET 1. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel 2. Hollywood Casino St. Louis
Best Nightlife: Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
3. River City Casino & Hotel SUITES
ENTERTAINMENT
1. Ameristar St. Charles
1. Hollywood Casino St. Louis
2. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
2. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
3. Hollywood Casino St. Louis
3. Ameristar St. Charles
ROOMS
ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
1. River City Casino & Hotel
1. Hollywood Casino St. Louis
2. Hollywood Casino St. Louis
2. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
3. Ameristar St. Charles
3. Ameristar St. Charles
CASINO FLOOR
NIGHTLIFE
1. Ameristar St. Charles
1. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
2. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
2. Ameristar St. Charles
3. River City Casino & Hotel
3. River City Casino & Hotel
POKER ROOM
SPA
1. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
1. Ameristar Casino Resort Spa
2. Hollywood Casino St. Louis
2. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
3. Ameristar St. Charles
CUSTOMER PERSONNEL 1. Ameristar St. Charles 2. Hollywood Casino St. Louis 3. Lumiere Place Casino & Hotel
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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HOT SLOT PICKS: E VERI S TRIK E S AG AIN
W
hen it comes to slot innovation and creativity, one of the top manufacturers who seems to always be on the cutting edge is Everi. The creators of the popular TournEvent of Champions continue to introduce and deliver popular games and themes that have slot players excited to get back to their favorite casinos. We are excited to highlight a couple of Everi’s latest games for you to try on your next casino visit. Enjoy!
Lightning Zap Jackpots: With no reels, no paylines and no pay tables, Everi creates a new play experience that builds on the original Lightning Zap game. Everi calls the jackpot games “innovation on video slots,” available on three game themes: Electric Rush, Power Burst and Super Charge. Each has varying volatility levels and different features, and the series incorporates five linked progressives. How does it work with no pay tables? Your prizes can vary. Check out the Electric Rush feature where an orb zaps everything to increase prizes by a random multiplier, then zaps away at prizes. In the Power Burst feature, the orb turns into a magnet and sucks in anywhere from four to 22 prizes. Each prize can be upgraded by a random multiplier. In the Super Charge feature, the orb selects four to eight prizes and increases them up to 1,000 times. 12
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Smokin’ Hot Stuff Wicked Wheel: Hot Stuff, the little devil of comic book fame, was a red-hot winner in the original Smokin’ Hot Stuff slot. Now the mischievous imp with his asbestos diaper and trusty trident returns in 243 ways to win slot, perfect for pennies, packed with multipliers, a progressive pick bonus and progressive jaclpots available at all bet levels The progressive pick bonus is triggered randomly after any base game spin. Players pick from 25 coins to reveal either a progressive jackpot or pitchfork symbol. Hot Stuff removes the lowest remaining jackpot each time his pitchfork is revealed, thus guaranteeing higher prizes. Also available is the Wicked Wheel bonus, triggered when three wicked wheel symbols land scattered on reels 3, 4, or 5. When a Hot Stuff symbol is part of a winning combination on reels 2, 3, or 4, it multiplies the winning combination by 2x, 3x, or 4x for some smokin’ payoffs.
TIME TO RAISE YOUR GAME
It’s your time. Right here. Right now. The possibilities are limitless, from first dice roll to last slot spin – appetizer to dessert – opening to encore. Time to leave timid behind, double down and crank the excitement up to 11. Then, stay over in a luxurious room or suite and do it all again.
“Best Casino” • “Best Overall Gaming Resort” “Best Video Slots” • “Best Roulette” “Best Players Club” Casino Player & Strictly Slots Magazine
Fir e Ke e p e r sC asin o.c o m | I - 9 4 E x i t 10 4 | 1117 7 M ic hi g a n Ave nu e 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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Las Vegas casinos were closed due to COVID-19. Photo Courtesy of Ryan Pensotes / Shutterstock
CLEAN CASINOS: WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR NEXT VISIT by
We all are aware of the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak and how it is disrupting different industries across the world –casinos are no exception. This virus can easily spread from one person to another; hence, people staying at home and following the safety protocols to flatten the curve. However, since a vaccine is yet to come, people are slowly going about their day as they would but not entirely in the same way. As the government announced to ease the restrictions and lift the lockdown in some places, many businesses and ventures decided to reopen, including casinos. But are the guests ready to play the gamble? Are the casinos prepared to protect their guests and employees? Wondering what to expect on your next visit to a casino, and is it safe? Are they following the precautions? Don’t worry as we are going to cover everything you need to 14
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BRANDI MARCENE
know about how the casinos are running during the pandemic and what protocols they are following. Casino Have to be Precautious about Cleaning Amidst COVID-19 These are unprecedented times and call for extraordinary measures. What we know so far is that the virus can transmit from one person to another person. You can also contract the virus by touching contaminated objects and surfaces, so it is necessary to keep everything clean. Doctors and specialists who are looking into the virus are reminding everyone about how important cleaning is. Constant and regular disinfection of the place is quite important, and the staff should be using the right equipment. No casino wants its guests to get infected by the disease due to other infected guests or some contaminated chips,
cards, or slots –it will not be less than a nightmare! Therefore, they need to follow the precautions to ensure the guests’ safety. Casinos are doing everything they can to maintain the highest safety standards and prevent the virus from spreading within the casino. The good thing is that Casinos in Southern and Midwest United States understand that following the protocols will allow them to welcome all the gaming lovers out there. However, if they do not follow the protocols, they may have to close their doors again for the guests until further notice. The government is monitoring all businesses and other ventures that are resuming their operations. This is to check whether the businesses are taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of everyone. Hence, casinos need to continue following safety protocols and be cautious about cleaning amidst COVID-19. What Cleaning Protocol Casino Managers Need to Follow How do managers promise safety for the guests during this virus? Well, they have kept their main focus on three concerns that are very important to address. • How can they control and prevent the risk of infection in the facility, which could be brought in by the guests or even staff? • How to ensure that all the employees working at the casino are free from the infection and how they can reduce the chance of infecting others. • How to establish certain policies and procedures that would assist the casinos in creating a safe environment. Now the question is, how are they going to address these three concerns? Well, they are turning the casinos into
hospitals (not literally). Yes, that’s right; next time you head into a casino, you’ll notice thermal screeners at all entry points for checking the guests’ temperature. High temperature could be indication symptom of the virus, so guests with a high temperature would have to head back home. Wearing masks is now a pre-requisite for entering casinos, especially in settings where social distancing is difficult to follow, such as elevators. If a guest doesn’t have one, managers must ensure to keep extra masks for guests and employees. Managers are making sure that sanitizers are always available at every station so that the guests can use it before and after the game. For instance, MGM Resorts in Mississippi has installed handwashing stations on casino floors. Besides, many casinos have taken a step further in ensuring safety for the guests, and they are employing emergency medical technicians in their facilities. Managers of the casinos are focusing on how to prioritize the protection of the guests and staff to prevent any COVID cases and spread of the virus in the casino. Managers are collaborating with health officials and experts to develop a better understanding of how to prevent infections. With the help of these health officials, they can set protocols that will assist in delivering a safe environment for guests and staff. Managers have already implemented a “no self-service” rule, and some casinos are introducing digital menus. Guests can view the menu on their mobile devices via QR codes; plus, the team members will serve the food with extra care. Furthermore, plexiglass will help in creating a barrier between the guests for safety purposes. Casino managers are already taking measures; however, they must make sure to continue following the protocols. Photo courtesy of: f11photo / Shutterstock.
The Las Vegas casino and entertainment scene have slowly reopened.
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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Tips: The Protection of Staff and Guests is a Priority
From Chips to Slot Machines: Adoption of Cleaning Measures
Well, not only do the managers need to ensure the safety of the guests but also the staff. Since the staff is responsible for all the necessary cleaning around the place, managers need to educate them on how to maintain personal hygiene and keep the environment clean.
We have mentioned how the managers are focusing on keeping everything clean to prevent any infections from growing within the casino. However, the real question is, how are they cleaning everything?
If any of the staff tests positive for the virus, it could lead to the closure of the casino until further testing of all the staff. Thus, casinos must ensure to screen each staff member and check their temperature. Also, all staff must wear gloves and sanitize their hands throughout the day. Managers will provide the staff with the right equipment and gear to cleanse the casino area, including the chips, cards, tables, chairs, and anything else that the guests might come into contact with. The staff should know to get rid of the equipment used during the cleansing process. They must know how to dispose of the used equipment such as gloves and scrubs, and whether they can reuse it after a wash or not. Staff Needs to Be Aware of the General COVID-19 Information Yes, the staff needs to know everything related to the virus to reduce the risk. Many people are aware of how the disease can transmit from one person to another. However, some people lack the knowledge of how to identify whether they have the infection. Thus, educating the staff on the symptoms of the virus can prevent workers from coming to the casino when they identify any of the following symptoms: • Fever
Well, if we talk about the chips, none of us know how many people come into contact with these chips. People change tables as they change games and use different chips. It will be hard to keep sanitizing them before the chips exchange hands. However, the casinos are ensuring to use a more appropriate cleansing process to clean the chips. There are many companies that clean chips for various casinos, but they have been quite busy since the outbreak of the virus. The reason for this is because they use an ultrasonic process which disinfects the chips effectively. Other than this, casinos are making sure everything goes through cleansing with anti-bacterial spray, wipes, and other components that may help in killing any germs developed. Casinos are taking proper safety measures for screening guests and reducing the risk of the virus. Guests who are still at home, wondering whether it is safe or not to join the other gamers at the casino, need not worry anymore. What Else? Possible Challenges Casino May have to Face Taking the extra step to keep the casino’s environment safe is highly important if casinos want to continue normal operation. Casinos will definitely face some challenges,
• Dry Coughs
• Feeling tired constantly Besides, the staff needs to be aware of keeping the distance between each other and the guests, as the doctors and other experts have advised keeping a physical distance of approximately six feet. Educating the cleaners and guestroom attendants would help follow the necessary protocols for preventing the virus from spreading as it is an unpredictable disease. The staff must also wear masks and sanitize their hands before and after coming into contact with anything. Other basic information the staff must be aware of includes: • Not to shake hands
• Not touch eyes, mouth, or face in any circumstance, especially while at work
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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
Plexiglass dividers have been installed at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.
but they have to deal with the situation smartly to continue the business. They may have to face some financial challenges, as the operations have not resumed fully, a drop in the revenue generation is inevitable. Plus, casinos will have to spend a big portion of their earnings on maintaining safety protocols. The cost of cleansing isn’t cheap, and we do not know how long casinos will have to follow these practices. The Eventual Reopening of ALL Casinos: What Will it Look Like? Well, we can see many casinos are taking the necessary steps to reopen. Casinos in Las Vegas, Arizona, and Atlantic City have announced resuming the business. Of course, they have taken all the steps needed to ensure the safety of the people in the casinos. Many of the casinos that have recently reopened are focusing on the essentials to keep the environment clean. Hence, the guests and staff are feeling more secure to avoid the risk of infections. Therefore, it is highly likely to see many of the casinos to reopen soon gradually.
Hand washing stations have been installed at all of the MGM Resort properties.
Now, the question is, what would they all look like? Well, probably the same while also giving some hospital vibes. You’re going to come across sanitizer stations, temperature checkups, and no more bars. If you need anything, you might have to use a device that allows you to maintain an appropriate distance and get what you want. And yes, no more self-service at casinos! The whole outlook of the casinos would remain the same, but you can imagine with all that cleansing and disinfection, guests and staff will need some time to adjust to the new setting. Guidance to Guests is Essential Casinos must guide and inform the guests about the protocols beforehand. Many casinos have established websites where regular guests can find any information regarding their favorite casino. Many casinos are marking the reopening date on their websites and informing the gamers about how they will be following the right protocols. Other than this, the guests should know about how they can enjoy their time at the casino while also protecting themselves and others. Inform the guests to wear masks and gloves to prevent any infection from growing inside the casino; it is the basic safety protocol. Conclusion As you can see, it is fair to say that the casinos are doing whatever they can to make sure the environment offered to the guests is safe. G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |
17
EXECUTIVE SPOTLIGHT
Travis Lunn,
President & CEO Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and Gold Strike Casino Resort
In the ever-changing landscape of our everyday life and with new safety precautions implemented daily, the gaming industry has been a leader when it comes to ensuring best practices for their customers and employees. Two properties that have excelled with implementing these safety measures are Beau Rivage Resort & Casino and Gold Strike Casino Resort located in Mississippi. Gaming and Destinations publisher, G. Douglas Dreisbach, caught up with the president and CEO of both properties, Travis Lunn, to talk about what they are doing to lead the way through the current COVID-19 pandemic, and what lies ahead for the properties as well as gaming enthusiasts around the world. G. Douglas Dreisbach: Our world has changed in so many ways with the COVID-19 pandemic. When it all started and casinos started to close, what were some of your and your team’s initial thoughts? And, now looking back, do you feel those thoughts were accurate and that the right steps were taken? Travis Lunn: Our initial thoughts were unusual, especially in the casino environment. Both of our properties in Mississippi had experienced closing their doors previously. Gold Strike had to close due to a flood, and Beau Rivage with Katrina. So, some of our initial steps were realizing that we needed to close and understanding that we had experience in doing that. What would be economically different in this situation is that there were mandates, both from our state government as well as from the Mississippi Gaming Commission, but without an understanding of when we could reopen and what that would look like. We did not try to make any presumptions about what the business would look like when we would re-open our doors because the situation was very fluid. We got the re-opening protocols the Friday before we opened so 18
| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M
there was a lot of quick movement, obviously, to adhere to those protocols. Initially, our thoughts were about making sure whatever we were going to do was going to be based around safety and wellbeing of our guests and team members. GDD: Did your team have any input for the state to consider for those guidelines, or were those coming from other places? TL: The guidelines we follow are from the Mississippi Gaming Commission and we use those as the base minimum of what we need to be open for business. In addition to those standard protocols, we also introduced our own seven-point safety plan. So, a lot of things you will see at Beau Rivage and Gold Strike aren’t necessarily requirements, but are things we wanted to introduce to make sure both our team members and guests know that we were taking their safety seriously. We did not do this on our own. We had a lot of consultation from experts in this area and hired third-party public health experts that assisted us in identifying those standards and introducing those measures. But there are some things unique to MGM Resorts, such as a handwashing station that is quite literally in the middle of our casino floor and we have polycarbonate separators at our table games, that is not a requirement, but another opportunity where we can create a safe environment, so we are taking that extra step. GDD: What kind of safety measures are in place for hotel guests regarding cleaning the rooms? TL: There is a multi-layered approach to the safety protocols in terms of the guest rooms. First and foremost, our team members and guest room
EXECUTIVE SPOTLIGHT
TL: I would say that there is some self-accountability. We have five or six key questions we ask and the constant reminders in terms of signage reminding everyone that if you are feeling any of those symptoms to not put others at risk. So, first, we would ask our guests to make sure they are not having any of those symptoms.
attendants have been trained on a whole new set of cleaning protocols and we have a new variety of disinfection that we implement in the cleaning process. We are also implementing a guest room rotation plan. So, when a guest checks out, we will hold that room vacant for an extended number of hours, or potentially even overnight, so that we have an opportunity to have proper air circulation before a new guest occupies that room. GDD: What do you think it will take to get back to full capacity and when do you think it will happen?
Second, we want to communicate that we have consulted some of the top experts to implement the protocols to create an environment where you can game safely and still enjoy the Beau Rivage and Gold Strike as you always have. You will still get that Southern experience and Southern hospitality. There are some new steps we have introduced, but the core of our business has always been entertainment and hospitality, and those things are not missing in this new environment. The protocols that we have
introduced are going to make sure that you have a safe and fun time when you visit.
TL: We need to do a great job with the protocols from the gaming commission since they have given us a fantastic opportunity to reopen our doors and welcome back our team members and our guests. We need to create a safe environment and make sure our guests feel welcome and create that energy to restore confidence. If we can instill that confidence, both in our regulators and our guests, I think we’re going to continue to see opportunities to expand and open up those other parts of our business. I think we will see additional measures that will be firsts. Right now, we are at a six-foot distance with our slot machines, which leads into our focus of understanding how we can add incremental opportunities for our guests to game and enjoy those games, both in slots and table games. Next, I think you will start to see restaurants and the food and beverage offerings slowly start to get back to normal and I see the entertainment and some of those other things lagging behind the rest because a lot of the entertainers have postponed their tours until next year. But I really feel that if we continue to do an excellent job, which not only we’re doing, but us as a gaming community and tourism industry as a whole, we’ll continue to be able to grow the business for our gaming positions and then also our food and beverage offerings. GDD: What key factors do you want to tell gaming enthusiasts to make them feel comfortable in coming back to the casino and giving it a try under this new normal?
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: Mad at Your Money Years ago while playing BJ (blackjack) a drunk gambler requested an extremely bad hit and the dealer barked, “Now there’s a guy who’s mad at his money!”. Since then I’ve witnessed many a wager where I mentally repeated those words. Video poker (VP) is no exception. Pay Schedules: You may think that it’s a good thing when other players choose to play a terrible game, say 7/5JOB, but it’s really bad for all concerned. Uninformed players may really believe the house is controlling their VP hands and the game is fixed while management thinks the game is no longer popular and replaces VP devices with traditional slots due to pathetically bad pay tables. Refer to Table1.1 for the actual ERs (expected returns) of several JOB games.
Table 1.1: Jacks or Better (JOB) Choices Game Name 9/6 JOB
Expected Return Variance 99.5439%
19.51468
9/5 JOB
98.4498%
19.49564
8/6 JOB
98.3927%
19.34012
8/5 JOB
97.2984%
19.32326
7/5 JOB
96.1472%
19.17190
Note that JOB choices vary in the payouts for only the Full House and Flush hands and all forms should be paying double your wager for two pairs. Be aware that you will receive a lower theoretical return than indicated in Table 1.1 if you fail to play the game computer-perfect. JOB, however, is a fairly intuitive game so you will be able to play close to perfect by practicing on tutorial software (I recommend Zamzow’s WinPoker) or using the free strategy cards in the back of my book “The Video Poker Edge”. You must use the exact pay table for the version of the JOB game you plan on playing because there will be minor strategy adjustments. This is also true when you opt to play a progressive version of any VP game. Drinking and “Deriving”: We’ve all heard the idiom “Don’t Drink and Drive” and the same is true for deriving (a mathematical term for finding a different form of an equation, like the quadratic formula): “Don’t Drink and Derive”! You may not be publicly humiliated like the inebriated BJ player, but any casino game with a skill component is best played sober. Even if you’ve practiced on the software it’s difficult to recall correct holds when your mind is foggy and inebriated players are more likely to accidentally drop hold cards. Budget Busting Progressives: There have been times when I went over my pre-determined session budget because the ER is spiked thanks to a long shot progressive, say a royal flush. Refer to Table 1.2 for an example.
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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
by L I N D A
B OY D
Table 1.2: 9/6DDB at Reset and 8000 Coin Progressive Winning Hand Royal Flush Straight Flush 4 Aces with 2, 3 or 4 Four 2’s, 3’s or 4’s with A-4 4 Aces Four 2’s, 3’s, or 4’s 4 Fives-Kings Full House Flush Straight 3 of a Kind 2 Pair Jacks or Better Expected Return Variance
9/6 DDB 9/6 DDB Progressive 4000 8000 250 250 2000 2000 800 800 800 800 400 400 250 250 45 45 30 30 20 20 15 15 5 5 5 5 98.9808% 101.2728% 41.98498 104.72194
Referring to Table 1.2 you can see why progressive royal flush games can be lucrative, but also carry a high risk. If you look at the variance for 9/6JOB choices in Table 1.1 you’ll note that the variance for non-progressive forms of DDB is approximately double that of JOB choices and the Progressive Royal in Table 1.2 has a whopping risk of more than five time that of JOB choices. Make no mistake you should find a VP game with an ER close to 100%, like 9/6 JOB and Progressive DDB (9/6 or higher), but you must also have realistic risk expectations. Bank of Linda: When my nephew was young, he used to go to the bank of Linda when he ran out of playing cash. It’s best to simply quit when it’s not your day even if your game has strong odds in your favor. Anything shy of 100% odds inside a gambling hall favors the house and so it’s wise to stop when your session or psychological budget is depleted. Final Thoughts: I was appalled when a drunk guy hit a BJ and the dealer proclaimed that he was “mad at his money”, but I’m also perplexed when I see people play non-progressive 7/5JOB or similar VP games with appalling ERs. I don’t think it’s good for players in the long run because it encourages casino brass to further downgrade VP games by adjusting pay tables. The house may be correct when they say most players don’t know the difference, but that’s a double-edged sword. They may not know why their money evaporates at turbo speed but they notice when it happens regularly and think the casino is gaffing their machines. Over time the results are both the players and casinos are “mad at their money” because there will be fewer VP patrons and that’s detrimental to casino profits.
Linda Boyd, a long-time table game player before turning to video poker, writes for Southern & Midwest Gaming and Destinations as well as several other national gaming related publications. Boyd’s book, The Video Poker Edge, includes free removable pay schedules and her free strategy cards for the most popular games.
YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY CLOSE TO PERFECT BY PRACTICING ON TUTORIAL SOFTWARE.
FOR MORE FREE TIPS, VISIT GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM
PLAYER STRATEGY by F R A N K
SCOBLETE
LOSING THE LOTTERY: The Government and Gambling I live in New York and if you go into any stationery store, many liquor stores, gas stations, and small grocery and convenience stores you invariably find state sponsored gambling in the form of the lottery and multiple scratch-off tickets ranging from $1 to $10 per ticket. Across the country, many people know about Powerball and Mega Millions and tens of millions of people play these across-the-states games.
Frank Scoblete is the #1 best-selling gaming author in America. His books, tips and more can be found at bookstores, on Amazon and his web-site at FrankScoblete.com.
In New York the lottery was put in place to raise more money for education. The truth is the money raised by the lottery goes to education but the money that would have gone to education from taxation of the citizens now goes elsewhere. The state gave money through the lottery and took money away through budgeting. The result? A waste of people’s hard earned money. Of course, all states that have state-sponsored gambling profess altruistic reasons for bringing in such games. In point of fact one could make several good arguments, both economic and moral, as to why the state should stay out of the gambling business. Here are some:
THE HOUSE EDGE ON STATE-SPONSORED LOTTERIES CAN RANGE BETWEEN 35 AND 50 PERCENT.
FOR MORE FREE TIPS, VISIT GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM
The house edges on the state-sponsored lotteries are far worse than the worst bets in the casinos – with edges bet ween 35 and 50 percent. Megabucks and other progressive jackpots on slot machines come in with about a 15 percent house edge. Gamblers are getting the severe short-end of the stick when they play the statesponsored games. Of course, if you play a dollar or five dollars a week in the big lotteries, you are enjoying the dream aspect of state lotteries without much risk to your economic vitality. You plunk your money down and fantasize about what you’ll do if you win those mega millions. Sadly, there are people who spend way too much money on these state-run games. In my local stationery store, I see the same people day after day buying countless tickets hoping to hit the jackpot. Few ever do. They are not supremely wealthy people with tons of money to throw away – many are older folks who might be looking at a lottery win as a form of retirement income. These state-run games have a much stronger impact on poorer people who wager a much greater percentage of their weekly income on the get-rich-quick dream hoping that hitting
their dream will turn their lives around. This disproportionate impact on the poorer among us does not bother me as a matter of personal morality, since I believe people (yes, even poor people) have the right to do what they want with their money, but it does bother me that the state (meaning my neighbors and me) benefit from the government’s sticking it to the little guy. I don’t want to be a partner in this. Yes, if a private business such as a casino does the sticking, as happens in large house-edge games, I am not a partner in this, although the stockholders of casino companies are. Still that is all private business and none of my business. The state also doesn’t seem to be able to run most enterprises properly considering the waste, pork, poor management, criminality and endless bureaucratic logjams that develop. I think we should refrain that old saying about teachers and make it, “Those who can do, and those who can’t will run government enterprises!” The fact that our tax money has been abominably spent on frivolities for decades is one of the reasons why the governments of various states have hungered for gambling revenue. The politicians figure, correctly it seems, that while working people bridle at more taxes, most of them don’t care if the government raises money by promulgating rotten gambling games. While I enjoy casinos and casino games, I am completely opposed to the government being in the gambling business. If the states are looking for more revenue, then tax the people more – if they dare. The fact is that so much government spending is geared to making the citizenry rely on government services and funds. Just about all campaigns are campaigns of promise. “I promise to spend other people’s money so you can have more services!” shouts one politician. His opponent shouts back, “No, I will spend more of other people’s money and give you even more services.” The bottom line for me is this: If the citizens want to gamble, let them go to the casinos. If the government wants more money, let them come out into the open and tax us more (God forbid!), but don’t engage in silly and expensive lottery games that make us all partners in something I don’t want to be partners in.
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
KENTUCKY DERBY CITY GAMING
DERBYCITYGAMING.COM
502-961-7600
900
INDIANA BELTERRA CASINO RESORT & SPA
BELTERRACASINO.COM
800-472-6311
RISING STAR CASINO RESORT
RISINGSTARCASINO.COM
INDIANA GRAND CASINO
•
40
1,600
812-438-1234
29
897
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
GUN LAKE CASINO
GUNLAKECASINO.COM/
269-792-7777
33
1,600
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
JACK CASINO CINCINNATI
JACKENTERTAINMENT.COM/CINCINNATI
513-252-0777
100
2,000
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
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
ST. CROIX CASINO TURTLE LAKE
STCROIXCASINO.COM
POTAWATOMI HOTEL & CASINO
PAYSBIG.COM
800-846-8946 800-729-7244
22 100
1,095 3,000
MINNESOTA
MISSOURI
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
WISCONSIN
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517 10
634 96
50
1,832 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
• •
•
•
328
• • •
408
•
•
788
•
•
•
•
967
• •
•
•
• •
•
INDOOR
•
• •
116
517 400
967
294
• •
200
•
184
•
•
•
• •
• INDOOR
• • •
• • •
INDOOR
184 294 200
454 1,500
• •
• •
86 140
•
302
• •
129
•
161 391
• •
• •
•
•
• INDOOR G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |
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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 LV – FEBRUARY 7, 2021 – RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM – TAMPA, FLORIDA
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES – OCTOBER 1, 2020
Team July Kansas City Chiefs
13/2
San Francisco 49ers
9/1
Baltimore Ravens
7/1
New Orleans Saints
12/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15/1
Dallas Cowboys
17/1
New England Patriots
17/1
Philadelphia Eagles
19/1
Seattle Seahawks
21/1
Indianapolis Colts
24/1
Pittsburgh Steelers
24/1
Green Bay Packers
25/1
Minnesota Vikings
25/1
Tennessee Titans
30/1
Los Angeles Rams
28/1
*All others higher than 30/1. **Odds courtesy of Vegasinsider.com
Team July March New York Yankees 4/1 3/1 Los Angeles Dodgers 4/1 7/2 Houston Astros 6/1 8/1 Atlanta Braves 13/1 14/1 Minnesota Twins 16/1 18/1 Tampa Bay Rays 18/1 25/1 Washington Nationals 18/1 16/1 St. Louis Cardinals 20/1 20/1 Philadelphia Phillies 20/1 25/1 New York Mets 22/1 18/1 Chicago Cubs 22/1 25/1 Cleveland Indians 22/1 30/1 Cincinnati Reds 25/1 30/1 Oakland Athletics 25/1 30/1 Chicago White Sox 30/1 40/1 Boston Red Sox 30/1 40/1 Milwaukee Brewers 30/1 50/1 Los Angeles Angels 33/1 30/1 Arizona Diamondbacks 40/1 40/1 San Diego Padres 40/1 N/A *All others higher than 50/1. **Odds courtesy of Vegasinsider.com
NBA CHAMPIONSHIP – NOVEMBER 12, 2020 Team July March Jan Nov
KENTUCKY DERBY – MAY 2, 2020 CHURCHILL DOWNS LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
Los Angeles Lakers
12/5
9/4
5/2
4/1
Milwaukee Bucks
5/2
11/4
5/1
6/1
Tiz the Law
Los Angeles Clippers
3/1
3/1
5/2
7/2
Houston Rockets
13/1
20/1
8/1
8/1
Boston Celtics
20/1
20/1
18/1 25/1
Toronto Raptors
22/1
30/1
40/1 100/1
Denver Nuggets
25/1
20/1
18/1 16/1
Philadelphia 76ers
28/1
20/1
8/1
8/1
Miami Heat
30/1
30/1
60/1 100/1
Utah Jazz
33/1
30/1
40/1 14/1
Dallas Mavericks
40/1
40/1
50/1 100/1
*All others higher than 40/1. **Odds courtesy of Vegasinsider.com
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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
Horse Name
Future Pool 5 Future Pool 2 Future Pool 1
2
8
11
Honor A. P.
6
24
25
Uncle Chuck
13
N/A
N/A
Authentic 11 15 50
Café Pharoah
14
N/A
N/A
Cezanne 19 N/A N/A
Art Collector
Dr Post
Max Player
King Guillermo
20
20
24
29
Enforceable 46
Thousand Words
Basin
All other 3-year-old Males
N/A
N/A
49
N/A
29
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
47
16
34
8
2
1
50 39 38
All other 24 N/A N/A 3-year-old Fillies *All others higher than 50/1. **Odds courtesy of Vegasinsider.com
Four Diamond dining to betting on a baseball diamond, everyone scores at IP! Step into Southern luxury and let us show you how IP Casino Resort Spa earned its AAA Four Diamond Award. Relax in refined rooms. Experience spectacular entertainment and exhilarating gaming. Savor cuisine for every palate. And now you can feed your hunger for sports at IP Sportsbook while Highlight’s feeds your cravings for the coldest beer, best burgers, wings and more! Discover fun for everyone at IP, the beauty of Biloxi’s sparkling Back Bay. E
OVER 1,000 ROOMS & SUITES
E
WORLD-CLASS ENTERTAINMENT
E
SEVEN DINING EXPERIENCES WITH TWO AAA FOUR DIAMOND VENUES
E
SPORTSBOOK LOUNGE
BEAUTIFUL SWIMMING POOL WITH PRIVATE CABANAS
E
70,000-SQUARE-FOOT CASINO
E
SENSES SPA & SALON
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Don’t Let The Game Get Out Of Hand. Gambling Problem? Call 1-888-777-9696.
| IPBiloxi.com
G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |
25
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
Let’s Go!
Hot Stuff the Little Devil © 2019 Classic Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
