Southern Gaming & Destinations Magazine July 2011

2011 Best of Southern Gaming Awards Winners Revealed! PAGE 14 VOLUME 13 | ISSUE 4 | JULY 2011

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SMOKIN’ IN THE SOUTH TOP CIGARS OF 2011 PAGE 36

GAMBLING ON THE GULF BIG TIMES IN BILOXI PAGE

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Shania Twain

A VEGAS COUNTRY COMEBACK PAGE 10

PLUS TIPS ON BLACKJACK • CRAPS • TEXAS HOLD ’EM • VIDEO POKER • SPORTS & MORE! COVERING FLORIDA | INDIANA | LAS VEGAS | LOUISIANA | MISSISSIPPI AND THE ENTIRE SOUTH!

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DATE Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 27 Aug 28 Aug 28 Aug 29 Aug 29 Aug 30 Aug 30 Aug 31 Aug 31 Sep 1 Sep 1 Sep 2 Sep 2 Sep 3 Sep 3 Sep 3 Sep 3 Sep 4 Sep 4 Sep 4 Sep 5 Sep 5

EVENT Thu Fri Fri Sat Sat Sun Sun Mon Mon Tue Tue Wed Wed Thu Thu Fri Fri Sat Sat Sat Sat Night Sun Sun Sun Mon Mon

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

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JULY 21 – AUGUST 8, 2011 $3,000 + $125 BUY-IN CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT Date & Day Jul. 21 Jul. 21 Jul. 22 Jul. 22 Jul. 23 Jul. 23 Jul. 24 Jul. 24 Jul. 25 Jul. 25 Jul. 26 Jul. 26 Jul. 27 Jul. 27 Jul. 28 Jul. 28 Jul. 29 Jul. 29 Jul. 30 Jul. 30 Jul. 31 Aug. 1 Aug. 1 Aug. 2 Aug. 2 Aug. 3 Aug. 3 Aug. 4 Aug. 4 Aug. 4 Aug. 5

Thu. Thu. Fri. Fri. Sat. Sat. Sun. Sun. Mon. Mon. Tue. Tue. Wed. Wed. Thu. Thu. Fri. Fri. Sat. Sat. Sun. Mon. Mon. Tue. Tue. Wed. Wed. Thu. Thu. Thu. Fri.

Aug. 5 Aug. 5 Aug. 6 Aug. 6 Aug. 6 Aug. 7 Aug. 7 Aug. 8

Fri. Fri. Sat. Sat. Sat. Sun. Sun. Mon.

Event # Time

(2 day) (2 day)

(2 day) (2 day)

(2 day) (2 day)

(2 day) (2 day) (2 day)

(3 day)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

Game

Buy-In

12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 3 P.M. 12 P.M. 4 P.M. 8 P.M. 12 P.M.

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4 P.M. 8 P.M. 10 A.M. 2 P.M. 4 P.M. 12 P.M. 4 P.M. 2 P.M.

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7 7 7 B E AC H B LV D. , B I L OX I , M S 39 5 3 0 | 2 2 8 - 3 74 - R O C K | H A R D R O C K B I L OX I . CO M

INSIDE this ISSUE

On the Cover: TWAIN: A Vegas Country Comeback 10 SHANIA

Feature Articles: BEST OF SOUTHERN 14 GAMING AWARDS:

Winners Revealed ON THE GULF: Big Times in Biloxi 24 GAMBLING COOKING ON THE COAST: 30 Food, Fun and Flair of the Region’s Top Chefs

GAMBLING ON THE GULF : Big Times in Biloxi | 24

IN THE SOUTH: Top Cigars of 2011 36 SMOKIN’ TURMOIL IN TUNICA: 42 Fast Road to Recovery PRESEASON PRIMER: 48 A Bettor’s Bliss, The NFL

Tips & Columns: Money Management 28 SLOTS: BLACKJACK: 34 Jumpstart Your Winning VIDEO POKER: 40 Slot Club Cards HORSERACING: 44 Why Handicappers Lose Money CRAPS: 52 Q&A on Advanced Play COMPS CONNECTION: 56 Finding the Freebies GOLF: 60 The Game Within the Game

UP IN SMOKE : Top Cigars of 2011 | 36

TURMOIL IN TUNICA : Fast Road to Recovery | 42

Highlights & Hot Spots PROFILE: Hoosier Park Racing & Casino: 54 PROPERTY

A First-Class Entertainment Destination

OF SUCCESS: Bok Homa Casino, 58 STRIDES Heidelberg, Mississippi

H O O S I E R PA R K R A C I N G & C A S I N O : A First-Class Entertainment Destination | 54 Vol um e 13 I ssu e 4

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FROM the EDITOR 4

The results for the 2011 Best of Southern Gaming Awards are in! Thank you to everyone who took the time to fill out the ballot and let us know what properties you like the most. We are thrilled about the number of votes we received again this year. We feel the gamblers are most knowledgeable when it comes to critiquing casinos, because they are the customers.

Their opinions and preferences are what ultimately make or break a casino. They show the casinos what they are doing well and some of the areas they could improve on. In addition, we are excited to announce the winner for the trip to Las Vegas is Marty B. from Elwood, IN. Congrats Marty! Good luck on your trip, and we want a full report when you get back!

I would also like to take this opportunity to announce Southern Gaming’s Casino Cook-off presented by Four Roses Bourbon, the largest casino culinary competition in the history of the South! The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 24, in Biloxi, Miss., as part of the 29th Annual Chef’s of the Coast Culinary Weekend … an amazing food festival with several events and some great food from more than 50 Gulf Coast restaurants. The Casino Cook-off will feature four top casino chefs who qualified to compete in the Chef Showdown via an online recipe contest on SouthernGaming.com. The chefs will compete on signature Viking Range competition platforms (provided by Great Kitchens in Gulfport) in front of a panel of judges who will determine their favorite dishes based on requirements and expectations from the competing chefs. The winning chef will receive cash, prizes and the bragging rights that come along with winning this prestigious event. We will profile all four chefs in the September Casino Dining Guide. Be sure to check out the article on page 30 for more ticket and event information … we hope to see you in Biloxi on Sept. 24!

This time of year is also exciting because football is right around the corner. Teams are rallying to get their squads conditioned and ready to crack helmets in their quests to the Super Bowl. With all of the information out there for looking at the games, preseason stats, injury reports and more, our advice is to leave it up to the pros. These guys study the games for a living and know the inside scoop on everything from injuries to position changes. On page 48, Mike Hook with PreGame.com, highlights some key points for the upcoming football season. The author is great at what he does and will guide you in the right direction for picking winners this year.

Also in this issue are several great tip columns on everything from craps to slot machines. We never promise you will win all the time after you read Southern Gaming, but I do feel confident in saying you will lose less!

Don’t forget to refer a friend to Southern Gaming and The Comps Club. It is only $29 per year and you will get six issues of Southern Gaming along with six member coupon paks (one per issue). The coupons range from buffets to match plays in markets like Indiana, Tunica, Gulf Coast and everywhere in between. Good luck!

If you can’t be good … be lucky!

G. Douglas Dreisbach General Manager

So u thern G aming and De s t in a t io n s

Publisher Bisig Impact Group Chief Executive Officer Larry Bisig President & Creative Director Chip Dumstorf General Manager G. Douglas Dreisbach Marketing Coordinator & Managing Editor Courtney Bisig Accounting Peggy Harris Copy Editor Sara Havens Contributing Authors Linda Boyd Phil Hellmuth, Jr. Mike Hook Charlie Minato Richard Nilsen Henry Tamburin Frank Scoblete Jean Scott Rudi Schiffer Letters to the editor, address changes and other correspondence should be sent to: Southern Gaming and Destinations 640 South Fourth Street Louisville, KY 40202 (502) 583-0333 Fax (502) 583-6487 e-mail: editor@southerngaming.com The goal of this publication is to help drive awareness of the ever-growing popularity of the gaming industry and to assist the gamer in enjoying their gaming experience to the fullest.

Southern Gaming and Destinations is published for those who seek the best in gaming and in life.

ON THE COVER: Country music star Shania Twain talks about her big move to Vegas on page 10.

Southern Gaming and Destinations is produced bimonthly by Bisig Impact Group of Louisville, Kentucky. Copyright 2004 by Bisig Impact Group. All Rights Reserved. This publication is printed

by Publisher’s Printing Co., Inc. of Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Postage is paid in Lebanon Junction, Kentucky Opinions of columnists are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor does Southern Gaming and Destinations assume liability for claims of advertisers.

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

THE GREAT ONES GO FAST TICKETS ON SALE NOW The Breeders’ Cup World Championships return to historic Churchill Downs on November 4th and 5th. Who could forget last year’s unforgettable finish, with the courageous Blame defeating the magnificent Zenyatta by just the slimmest of margins. And with the world’s elite battling once again, this year promises to keep the heart-pounding excitement going. So grab a spot to two unforgettable days of Championship races, including the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.

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on the Web ... Southern Southern Gaming Magazine is THE gaming authority of the South, and our website proves it by offering a wide variety of resources for the gamers of the South. Gaming-related news is posted daily, along with lotto results, sports odds, weather, concerts and more!

Be sure to check out the new digital version of Southern Gaming and Destinations Magazine by visiting SouthernGaming.com.

Best New Bytes: Here are a couple of stories we posted on SouthernGaming.com:

Pearl River Resort Grants Wish for Terminally Ill Child

Pearl River Resort prides itself on many things, including giving back to the local community.

Recently, Pearl River helped grant a wish of a 10-year old cancer patient named Brian who lives in Philadelphia, MS. Team members teamed up with Larry the Cable Guy, best known as one of the comedians on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, to meet and entertain Brian before Larry’s live performance on May 14th at The Arena at Golden Moon.

According to DJ Lindfors, Entertainment Director for Pearl River, Larry understood how valuable giving up the time to make someone laugh was for someone like Brian. Larry’s team was thrilled with the opportunity after a member of Brian’s family contacted Pearl River in hopes of granting his wish to meet the comedian. The child, who loves comedy, often dresses up like his favorite performer Larry the Cable Guy. Brian was diagnosed with Lymphoma, and although he faces a major medical battle, the family says he couldn’t have been happier after meeting his idol.

Pearl River Resort is proud to bring a smile to young and old alike, no matter the circumstances. Granting one child’s wish is only the beginning for the staff at Pearl River, who felt very honored to be a part of this gracious effort.

Phantom EFX does it again with Reel Deal Slots: Gods of Olympus!

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WANT MORE? Southern Gaming’s Got It!

Don’t forget to visit SouthernGaming.com for the latest gaming news, hot giveaways, gossip, entertainment and great tips. Don’t miss out... stay connected at SouthernGaming.com!

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So u thern G aming and De s t in a t io n s

nGaming.com

Concert Calendar J U LY:

8 Gary Allan

Hoosier Park Racing & Casino 1-800-526-7223 HoosierPark.com 9 Cinderella

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 13 Plain White T’s

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 15 Wayne Newton

Beau Rivage Casino Resort & Spa (Biloxi) 1-888-566-7469 BeauRivage.com 15 Martina McBride

Paragon Casino Resort 1-800-946-1946 ParagonCasinoResort.com 15-16 Air Supply

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 15-16 Gary Allan

Horseshoe Casino Southern Indiana 1-866-676-SHOE Horseshoe-indiana.com 16 Martina McBride

Wind Creek Casino & Hotel 1-800-826-9121 WindCreekCasino.com 21 KC and the Sunshine Band

Paragon Casino Resort 1-800-946-1946 ParagonCasinoResort.com 22 Peter Frampton

Beau Rivage Casino Resort & Spa (Biloxi) 1-888-566-7469 BeauRivage.com 22 Melissa Etheridge

Horseshoe Casino Southern Indiana 1-866-676-SHOE Horseshoe-indiana.com 23 Kathy Griffin

IP Casino Resort & Spa 1-888-946-2847 IPBiloxi.com

Here are some of the best upcoming concerts at your favorite casinos in the South. Visit SouthernGaming.com and use our Concert Connection Calendar to find concerts near you. You can search by location or date, and even buy your tickets!

23 Regis Philbin

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 23 Big Bad VooDoo Daddy (Dancing

with the Stars)

Belterra Casino Resort 1-888-BELTERRA Belterracasino.com 29 CeCe Winans

Pearl River Resort 1-866-44-PEARL PearlRiverResort.com 29 Chippendales

Belterra Casino Resort 1-888-BELTERRA BelterraCasino.com

AU G U S T: 5 Josh Turner

Hoosier Park Racing & Casino 1-800-526-7223 HoosierPark.com 5 Brian McKnight

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 6 Righteous Brothers Bill Medley

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 6 Rodney Carrington

Paragon Casino Resort 1-800-946-1946 ParagonCasinoResort.com 11 Chicago

Pearl River Resort 1-866-44-PEARL PearlRiverResort.com 12 Big & Rich with Gretchen Wilson &

Cowboy Troy

IP Casino Resort & Spa 1-888-946-2847 IPBiloxi.com 12 Rodney Carrington

Horseshoe Casino Southern Indiana 1-866-676-SHOE Horseshoe-indiana.com

13 Goo Goo Dolls

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 13 Edgar Winter

Paragon Casino Resort 1-800-946-1946 ParagonCasinoResort.com 19 Delbert McClinton

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 26 Ted Nugent

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 27 Great White

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 30 Sheryl Crow

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com

SEPTEMBER: 2 Everclear

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 3 Lynyrd Skynyrd

Hoosier Park Racing & Casino 1-800-526-7223 HoosierPark.com 3 Justin Moore

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 9 Tracy Lawrence

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256 HardRockBiloxi.com 24 Casino Cook-off Live Event

Mississippi Gulf Coast

Convention Center 1-877-582-9478 ChefsOfTheCoast.org

Want more? Southern Gaming’s Got It! Visit SouthernGaming.com for all your gaming needs.

Vol um e 13 I ssu e 4

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FACTS and FU N

Did You Know?

2. What is the only team that didn’t have a first round pick in the 2011 NFL Draft?

A) Oakland Raiders B) Atlanta Falcons C) Green Bay Packers D) Baltimore Ravens 3. Which of the following is not a property of MGM Resorts International?

A) Beau Rivage Resort & Casino B) Gold Strike Resort & Casino C) IP Casino Resort & Spa D) The Mirage Resort & Casino 4. Which property teamed up with the American Red Cross to deliver care packages to Tunica flood victims?

A) Hollywood Casino Tunica B) Harrah’s Casino Tunica C) Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall D) Gold Strike Casino Resort & Spa 5. Which celebrity was in attendance at the 2011 Derby Poker Championship, presented by Jim Beam?

A) Comedian Ron White B) Poker Professional Phil Hellmuth C) Reality Television star Vicki Gunvalson D) All of the Above

"Did You Know" answers, below left

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Riddle of the Month Answer: Because All the Fans Have Left!

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By the Numbers 32

Number of teams in the National Football League

7-1 Current Vegas odds for both the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots of winning the 2012 Superbowl

44,553

Votes Received in the 2011 Best of Southern Gaming Readers Choice Awards

18 million Dollars spent to construct the newest Choctaw Property Bok Homa Casino

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Got a joke or fun fact? E-mail it to jokes@southerngaming.com for your chance to win casino coupons from The Comps ClubTM!

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The answer is listed on the bottom left corner of this page.

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4 G A M E C O U R TES Y O F S U D O K U TO D AY. C O M

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Why is it always so hot in the stadium after football games?

1. Who was the #2 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft chosen

by Denver?

A) Cam Newton of Auburn B) Von Miller of Texas AM C) Marcell Dareus of Alabama D) Patrick Peterson of LSU

9 "Did You Know" Answers: 1. B-Von Miller 2. A-Oakland Raiders 3. C- IP Casino Resort & Spa 4. D- Gold Strike Casino Resort & Spa 5. D-All of the Above

Riddle of the Month:

2

The Sudoku Puzzle Up to the challenge?

Complete the grid so that each column, row and block of nine squares includes numbers 1 through 9 only once.

Answers on page 32

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shania twain A VEGAS COUNTRY COMEBACK

BY ROB IN LE AC H

Caesars Palace in Las Vegas has once again solidified their reputation of hosting the biggest names in music and entertainment at their marquee concert venue on the Las Vegas Strip, The Colosseum. They recently announced a two-year deal with international superstar and the world’s best-selling female country artist of all time, Shania Twain in a production titled, Shania: Still the One. The show will mark a widely-speculated return to the stage on December 1, 2012 after a seven-year hiatus and will feature a collage of her biggest hits backed by a production that will certainly play to sold out shows night after night.

When announcements like this happen in Las Vegas, there is one guy who is always in the know…the one and only Robin Leach, most widely known for his popular television show, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” Leach has recently been dedicated to keeping the pulse of Sin City and feeding it through VegasDeluxe. com, a web-site focusing on celebrities, arts and entertainment in Las Vegas.

Leach caught up with Shania after her announcement and got the scoop on what we can expect in what will surely be the hottest ticket in Las Vegas!

Robin Leach: You all had this first dance with an offer for Vegas while McCartney is playing in the theater nearby, and you agree to come to Vegas and watch Cher. Two months later, you walk all alone in The Colosseum after seeing her perform the night before. That following day, you go up on the roof of Caesars to shoot for Oprah’s network, which is why I first wrote about you coming here. When you left Vegas after that trip, had you made up your mind then, or was it really dependent on seeing the vocal doctors the next day?

Shania Twain: It was totally dependent on the doctor because that was the key to me ever singing again, and it was genuinely in real time, so it’s not like we pasted it together. I had gone to Vegas reluctant, that I would get overwhelmed and that it would 10

Southern G aming an d De s t in a t io n s

just scare me more than anything, to be honest. But I felt really good walking in there. The Colosseum had such a great sound.

Anybody who is sensitive to acoustic and vocal environments, a sound environment, can appreciate how great that room feels.

That struck me first. Just speaking, I felt good in there. There was so much space in there, yet it felt very intimate. I had a very good sense of my voice and my speaking sound.

Dysphonia [a disorder making it difficult to produce vocal sounds from an enfeebled voice] is not a singing problem. It’s a voice box issue in the muscle on the voice, very different from having a nodule on the vocal cords, which I’ve never had. I’m lucky that I’ve never had that. It needs a long renewal time, and even today, I am still addressing it. You have to go through the entire recovery process. So once I visited the doctors after I left Vegas, I was more confident. I think once you understand what’s going on, you just feel better already.

When you go to the doctor and you’ve had this pain and you don’t know what it is, you’re worried, you’re concerned, you don’t know what to expect, you almost don’t want to know. I think everyone has experienced that, so I was relieved to know that they were optimistic, and it was something identifiable, that there were specialists who would deal with it. It made everything a little less mysterious, and that took a lot of the anxiety away from me. I still hadn’t committed to Vegas, but then I was trying because I wanted to do it.

RL: How long did it take you before you said yes to yourself- in your mind?

ST: I had certainly decided before the journey of the Oprah series was over. It was near the tail end of filming the series that I finally felt the conviction -- two months ago. So really more last minute when you think about it, deciding that I wanted to do it. I’ll admit, though, I probably wouldn’t have gone to The Colosseum had I not known that that’s what I wanted.

not even be released in time for Vegas because I am not going to put pressure on myself ever again. When it is ready, it will be ready.

PH O TO CRED I TS: O PRA H W I NF REY NETW O RK

Robin Leach: Walk me through to December 2012 -- 16 months away.

Where do you think the calendar is at this point in terms of creating the show and then rehearsals and then coming to Vegas? How do you envision the window of time?

SH A N I A T WA I N : Still the One will premier in Las Vegas in December 2012.

RL: I don’t want to dwell on the ugly journey of the broken marriage, the shock of discovering your husband is having an affair with your best girlfriend and the divorce. It’s like a country song in itself! You’ve been through the mill, but I will ask since you describe all this as a healing year and your voice coming back, do you think you really had to go to the very bottom in order to get back to the very top and appreciate it?

ST: I think the contrast is necessary in order to appreciate both.

You have to have the bad to appreciate the good. I’m always grateful for that part of the bad. You’re just so glad when it’s over, and you come up for fresh air and you’re just like, “Wow, there’s fresh air here, and I’m just so grateful for the simplest things.” I think you learn to appreciate the simpler things whenever you come out of a difficult time. I thought I never wanted to find love again. I didn’t want to. But now I have, and it’s become very beautiful.

Getting my voice back and getting my confidence back is a dayto-day struggle, and it’s really all about finding my expression again. It has been and is very cathartic, and that’s the perfect word for it. It’s rediscovering soft expression that I slowly lost for many years and until it was more than I could bear. I was petrified of writing a new song -- it was a whole new world for me. It had been many, many years since I wrote by myself. That was new and scary.

But the song [“Today Is Your Day,” released yesterday] really, every day, cheered me up so much, I thought I should share it. It really set me off ready to get back into the studio. It revived my creativity. I’ve written a whole bunch of other things, and I’ll record those over the summer. Some of the new material might

ST: I’m going to spend the summer honing in on who’s going to produce it. We don’t even have a producer at this early stage. Now my imagination is really going to go wild, and I’m going to let myself dream a little bit, and what would be the most fun and the most fulfilling artistically for me, knowing that this is much less limited than any touring show. This is very liberating to know that. It’s kind of an open wallet compared to what you would do on a touring show where you have to consider a lot of things.

There are a lot of expenses that don’t exist when you’re stationary, so that becomes a very good exchange to go into the quality of the show. It’s more consistent and reliable. You can do things in a stationary setting that might break down if you were touring, that wouldn’t travel well, so that’s a lot more liberating, as well. And just the creative resources that are available in Vegas, the experience that they have and the group that is there, you couldn’t take that group on the road with you. So the summer is going to be spent dreaming about all of those possibilities.

I will be working on the new record, as well, so I will be dealing with who is going to produce the next record and who is going to produce the show. Then the fall and winter will be spent doing pre-production for a couple months, and then we’ll go into genuine production, and then I would like three months for rehearsals.

RL: Does that mean a lot of it you will do from home in the Bahamas and then you will come to Vegas for rehearsals, or will you do rehearsals somewhere else?

ST: I would like to do a lot of the rehearsals in the Bahamas -certainly the initial preliminary stuff, musical arranging, a lot of the production on paper, mechanical meetings, all of that stuff.

I’d rather just stay there as much as I can because I have my son Eja, who is 10. I really don’t want to be away from him. That was a big reason to go to Vegas, too, they’re so accommodating in that way. My son is at an age where I don’t really want him to be caught up in the whole touring thing right now.

He’s friends with Celine’s son. They’ve played together. That reminds me, I have to call her for some advice and input about living and working in Vegas, dealing with the humidity in the Vol um e 13 I ssue 4

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has been playing sold-out shows at The Colosseum for over five years.

will premier his new show called “The Million Dollar Piano” on September 28th.

theater. Somebody should warn her now that I need a lot of insight and help.

RL: So to describe you at this moment as happy would be an understatement?

ST: Happy would be at the center of it all. It would be surrounded by everything, life itself, the growth, the healing, all of the other things. There is so much going on right now. I guess happy is a very good way of summarizing it.

RL: We are delighted you are coming to Vegas. The whole town is so excited that you will be living among us, so we welcome you with lots of love and open arms. We pray that you have this full recovery with the voice, and when you get here finally, you’ll be singing the best you’ve ever sung in your life.

ST: It will be a triumph! I am really up for it, and that really means a lot to me. To find myself poised to play at The Colosseum is truly magical. It’s an iconic location with unmatched energy. I’m excited to bring my pop country spin to the city. People from all over the world travel to Las Vegas, and I’m thrilled to be able to share my music again with a global audience. This is a dream for any performing artist. What more could I ask for? It is an exceptional opportunity.

•

Shania Twain joins an elite list of musicians and entertainers that have graced the stage at The Colosseum for long term show deals including Celine Dion, Elton John and Cher. The investment

by Caesars for these names has not been released but has to be huge, but with it, comes an experience that Vegas visitors cannot find anywhere else in the world. These type of names influence trip decisions for millions of travelers who might not have come in the past. While Shania’s performances won’t begin until December 2012, The Colosseum currently is hosting acts by Celine Dion, Elton John and Rod Stewart as well as other acts that are scheduled when these artists are not performing. These are 12

Southern G aming an d De s t in a t io n s

not your typical concerts either. Celine’s performance includes 31 musicians consisting of an orchestra, a band and a wardrobe for Dion that features elegant gowns all accented with a stunning visual presentation on a stage sized screen serving as a backdrop.

In addition, Elton John will continue his performances at the venue with an all-new show called “The Million Dollar Piano” on September 28. He will perform sixteen shows and will mark the beginning of a three-year residency at The Colosseum.

Another legendary rock icon that will begin a long-term commitment at the venue is Rod Stewart who will begin a two-year mainstay beginning August 24th with 18 concerts.

Stewarts show, dubbed as “The Hits”, will be a concert celebration featuring a set list of R&B, and a culmination of his many hits including “Maggie May,” “Hot Legs,” and “Some Guys Have All the Luck” just to name a few.

In a time of declining tourism and questionable economy, it is entertainment and announcements like this that will keep Las Vegas on the top of the list as a premium destination for years to come. Be sure to check out the show list at The Colosseum before you book your next trip…you just might be surprised!

To read Robin Leach’s interview with Shania Twain in its entirety, visit VegasDeluxe.com.

Tickets, dates and more information on Shania Twain and all of the performances at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace Las Vegas can be found at www.caesarspalace.com or by calling Caesars Palace at 866-227-5938. Tickets prices range from $55 - $250.

Robin L each ’s celebrit y and ar t s and enter tainment website, Ve g a s D e l u x e . c o m i s p a r t o f L a s Ve g a s - b a s e d G r e e n s p u n Media Group, which also owns L asVegasSun.com and LasVegasWeekly.com. Leach, widely known for “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade covering Sin City.

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n January 2011, Southern Gaming launched the ninth annual, Best of Southern Gaming Readers Choice Awards in an effort to recognize the most prestigious gaming properties of the South, chosen by the most important critics in the nation — our readers! We received more than 43,000 votes for this year’s awards, proving to us that casino gamblers really do appreciate the chance to honor their favorite gaming destinations — not to mention the trip for two to Vegas, which we are sure was an incentive to vote as well. Airfare and casino hotel

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Southern G aming an d De s t in a t io n s

We are happy to have received so many thousands of votes from our readers and casino-goers throughout the South. Despite the economy, the gaming industry is still booming— with new properties and better amenities popping up everywhere from Indiana to Florida. Gaming enthusiasts in every region have shown us just how much they love their favorite properties by taking the time to send in their votes in hopes of seeing their top picks glorified in this results issue.

From golf courses to casino personnel, there is something unique at every casino that

makes it stand out above the rest. Some people step foot in a casino and go straight to the finest dining restaurant, while others prefer the buffet for a more economical yet filling experience. No matter what you look for in a casino, there is a category for everything in our Best of Awards, enabling you to see what you’ve missed out on and where! On the next several pages, we are proud to announce the results of the 2011 Best of Awards for each region. Take the advice of your fellow gamblers— more than 43,000 of them— and check out what these amazing Southern properties have to offer!

INDIANA

Best of Awards

BEST OVERALL CASINO CASINO FLOOR 1. Indiana Live! Casino 2. Belterra Casino Resort 3. Grand Victoria Casino & Resort Honorable Mention: Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Hoosier Park Racing & Casino

1. Indiana Live! Casino 2. Hoosier Park Racing & Casino 3. Casino Aztar Evansville Honorable Mention: Grand Victoria Casino & Resort, Belterra Casino Resort

BEST ROOMS

BEST POKER ROOM

1. Belterra Casino Resort 2. French Lick Resort 3. Grand Victoria Casino & Resort Honorable Mention: Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Hollywood Casino

BEST SUITES

1. Belterra Casino Resort 2. Hollywood Casino 3. French Lick Resort Honorable Mention: Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Hollywood Casino

BEST AMENITIES

1. French Lick Resort 2. Belterra Casino Resort 3. Grand Victoria Casino & Resort Honorable Mention: Hollywood Casino, Horseshoe Southern Indiana

BEST RESTAURANT

1. Indiana Live! Casino: Makers Mark Bourbon House & Lounge 2. Hoosier Park Racing & Casino: Homestretch Steakhouse 3. Belterra Casino Resort: Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse Honorable Mention: Grand Victoria Casino & Resort, Horseshoe Casino Southern Indiana

BEST BUFFET

1. Indiana Live! Casino: Live Market Buffet 2. Hoosier Park Racing & Casino: Prime Harvest Buffet 3. Grand Victoria Casino & Resort: Riverview Buffet Honorable Mention: Casino Aztar Evansville: Temptations, Horseshoe Casino Southern Indiana’s Paula Deen Buffet

To see a full list of Awards, visit SouthernGaming.com today!

1. Horseshoe Casino Southern Indiana 2. Belterra Casino Resort 3. Hollywood Casino Honorable Mention: Indiana Live!

Casino, Hoosier Park Racing & Casino

BEST PLAYERS CLUB

1. Indiana Live! Casino 2. Grand Victoria Casino & Resort 3. Casino Aztar Evansville Honorable Mention: Horseshoe Southern Indiana, Belterra Casino Resort

BEST GOLF COURSE

1. Grand Victoria Casino & Resort 2. Belterra Casino Resort 3. French Lick Resort Honorable Mention: Horseshoe Southern Indiana

BEST NIGHTLIFE

1. Casino Aztar Evansville 2. Indiana Live! Casino 3. Hoosier Park Racing & Casino Honorable Mention: Grand Victoria Casino & Resort, Horseshoe Southern Indiana

BEST ENTERTAINMENT BEST CASINO 1. Belterra Casino Resort PERSONNEL 2. Horseshoe Casino Southern Indiana 3. Indiana Live! Casino Honorable Mention: Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, Grand Victoria Casino & Resort

1. Indiana Live! Casino 2. Casino Aztar Evansville 3. Grand Victoria Casino & Resort Honorable Mention: Hollywood Casino, Belterra Casino Resort

CUSTOMER BEST ENTERTAINMENT BEST SERVICE VENUE 1. Belterra Casino Resort 1. Belterra Casino Resort 2. Horseshoe Casino Southern Indiana 3. Hoosier Park Racing & Casino Honorable Mention: Indiana Live!

Casino, Grand Victoria Casino & Resort

2. Hoosier Park Racing & Casino 3. Grand Victoria Casino & Resort Honorable Mention: Indiana Live!

Casino, Casino Aztar Evansville

BEST ADVERTISING

1. Indiana Live! Casino 2. Hoosier Park Racing & Casino 3. Grand Victoria Casino & Resort Honorable Mention: Hollywood Casino, Casino Aztar

Vol um e 13 I ssue 4

15

TUNICA

Best of Awards

BEST AMENITIES

1. Harrah’s Casino Tunica 2. Gold Strike Resort & Casino 3. Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall Honorable Mention: Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino, Hollywood Casino

BEST RESTAURANT

1. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino: Twains Fine Dining 2. Harrah’s Casino Tunica: ’37 Fine Dining Experience 3. Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino Honorable Mention: Gold Strike Resort & Casino, Hollywood Casino

BEST BUFFET

BEST OVERALL CASINO

1. Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall 2. Gold Strike Resort & Casino 3. Harrah’s Casino Honorable Mention: Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino, Hollywood Casino

BEST ROOMS

1. Gold Strike Resort & Casino 2. Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino 3. Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall Honorable Mention: Hollywood Casino, Fitz Casino & Hotel

BEST SUITES

1. Gold Strike Resort & Casino 2. Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino 3. Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall Honorable Mention: Harrah’s Casino, Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel To see a full list of Awards, visit SouthernGaming.com today!

16

Southern G aming an d De s t in a t io n s

1. Gold Strike Resort & Casino 2. Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino 3. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino Honorable Mention: Hollywood Casino, Fitz Casino & Hotel

CASINO FLOOR

1. Hollywood Casino 2. Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino 3. Harrah’s Casino Honorable Mention: Gold Strike Resort & Casino, Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino

BEST POKER ROOM

1. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino 2. Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino 3. Gold Strike Resort & Casino Honorable Mention: Harrah’s Casino, Hollywood Casino

BEST PLAYERS CLUB

1. Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall: B Connected 2. Harrah’s Casino: Total Rewards 3. Gold Strike Resort & Casino: M Life Honorable Mention: Hollywood Casino, Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino

BEST GOLF COURSE

1. Cotton Woods Golf Course 2. River Bend Golf Links 3. Tunica National Golf & Tennis Center

BEST ENTERTAINMENT 1. Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall 2. Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino 3. Gold Strike Resort & Casino Honorable Mention: Harrah’s Casino, Hollywood Casino

BEST ENTERTAINMENT VENUE 1.

2.

3.

4.

Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall Gold Strike Resort & Casino Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino

BEST CASINO PERSONNEL

1. Hollywood Casino Tunica 2. Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall 3. Gold Strike Resort & Casino Honorable Mention: Harrah’s Casino, Fitz Casino & Hotel

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

1. Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall 2. Gold Strike Resort & Casino 3. Harrah’s Casino Honorable Mention: Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino, Hollywood Casino

BEST ADVERTISING

1. Hollywood Casino 2. Harrah’s Casino 3. Gold Strike Resort & Casino Honorable Mention: Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino

BEST THEME

1. Hollywood Casino 2. Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall 3. Tunica Roadhouse Casino & Hotel

Thank your for voting us Best Casino in Tunica!

We are committed to bringing you the best year after year.

POKER ROOM

BEST OVERALL CASINO Best Customer Service Best Players Club Best Restaurant Best Poker Room Best Nightlife Best Entertainment Best Entertainment Venue

MID-SOUTH

Best of Awards

BEST AMENITIES

1. Pearl River Resort 2. L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort 3. Horseshoe Casino Bossier City Honorable Mention: Paragon Casino Resort, DiamondJacks Casino Bossier

BEST GOLF COURSE

1. Dancing Rabbit: Pearl River Resort 2. Tahmaka Hills: Paragon Casino Resort 3. Koasati Pines: Coushatta Casino Resort Honorable Mention: Contraband Bayou: L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort

BEST RESTAURANT

BEST OVERALL CASINO 1. DiamondJacks Casino Bossier City 2. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino Shreveport 3. Pearl River Resort Honorable Mention: Horseshoe Casino Bossier City, L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort

BEST ROOMS

1. DiamondJacks Casino Bossier City 2. Paragon Casino Resort 3. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino Shreveport Honorable Mention: Horseshoe Casino Bossier City, DiamondJacks Casino Vicksburg

BEST SUITES

1. Horseshoe Casino Bossier City 2. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino Shreveport 3. Pearl River Resort Honorable Mention: DiamondJacks Casino Bossier City, Paragon Casino Resort To see a full list of Awards, visit SouthernGaming.com today!

18

Southern G aming an d De s t in a t io n s

1. DiamondJacks Casino Bossier City 2. Wind Creek Casino 3. Horseshoe Casino Bossier City Honorable Mention: L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort, Paragon Casino Resort

BEST BUFFET

BEST PLAYERS CLUB

1. DiamondJacks Casinos 2. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino Shreveport 3. Paragon Casino Resort Honorable Mention: Horseshoe Casino Bossier City, Harrah’s Casino Cherokee

BEST ENTERTAINMENT

1. Pearl River Resort 2. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino Shreveport 3. Horseshoe Casino Bossier City Honorable Mention: Paragon Casino Resort, Harrah’s Casino Cherokee

BEST CASINO PERSONNEL

1. DiamondJacks Casino Bossier City 2. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino Shreveport 3. DiamondJacks Casino Vicksburg Honorable Mention: Paragon Casino Resort, Eldorado Resort Casino Shreveport

1. Pearl River Resort BEST CUSTOMER 2. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino SERVICE Shreveport 1. Paragon Casino Resort 3. Wind Creek Casino 2. DiamondJacks Casino Honorable Mention: Paragon Casino Bossier City Resort, Horseshoe Casino Bossier City 3. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino Shreveport CASINO FLOOR Honorable Mention: Horseshoe 1. DiamondJacks Casino Bossier Casino Bossier City, Eldorado Resort City Casino Shreveport 2. Horseshoe Casino Bossier City 3. Paragon Casino Resort BEST ADVERTISING Honorable Mention: Pearl River 1. Pearl River Resort Resort, Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino 2. DiamondJacks Casino Shreveport Bossier City 3. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino BEST POKER ROOM Shreveport 1. Paragon Casino Resort Honorable Mention: Paragon Casino 2. Horseshoe Casino Bossier City Resort, Horseshoe Casino Bossier City 3. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino Shreveport BEST THEME Honorable Mention: Eldorado Resort 1. DiamondJacks Casino Casino Shreveport, Pearl River Resort Bossier City 2. DiamondJacks Casino Vicksburg BEST ENTERTAINMENT 3. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino VENUE Shreveport 1. The Areana at Pearl River Resort Honorable Mention: Paragon Casino 2. Horseshoe Casino Bossier City Resort, Eldorado Resort Casino 3. Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino Shreveport Shreveport

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

BEST IN 12 CATEGORIES!

OF THE MIDSOUTH! FIRST PLACE WINS Best Overall Casino • Best Casino Floor • Best Players Club • Best Casino Personnel Best Rooms • Best Restaurant • Best Theme • Best Nightlife

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Best Advertising • Best Theme • Best Customer Service

THIRD PLACE WIN Best Casino Personnel

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GULF COAST

Best of Awards

BEST RESTAURANT

1. IP Casino Resort & Spa: Thirty Two 2. Island View Casino Resort: Carter Green Steakhouse 3. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino: BR Prime Honorable Mention: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi: Vibe, The Isle: Farraddays

BEST BUFFET

1. Satisfaction Buffet, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi 2. Back Bay Buffet, IP Casino Resort & Spa 3. Island View Buffet, Island View Casino Resort Honorable Mention: The Buffet at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Boomtown Casino Buffet

CASINO FLOOR BEST OVERALL CASINO

1. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino 2. IP Casino Resort & Spa 3. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Honorable Mention: Island View Casino Resort, Palace Casino Resort

BEST ROOMS

1. Island View Casino Resort 2. IP Casino Resort & Spa 3. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Honorable Mention: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, Grand Biloxi Hotel, Casino & Spa

BEST SUITES

1. IP Casino Resort & Spa 2. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi 3. Island View Casino Resort Honorable Mention: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino

BEST AMENITIES

1. IP Casino Resort & Spa 2. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 3. Island View Casino Resort Honorable Mention: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino

20

Southern G aming an d De s t in a t io n s

1. Island View Casino Resort 2. IP Casino Resort & Spa 3. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Honorable Mention: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Harrah’s Casino & Hotel New Orleans

BEST POKER ROOM

1. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino 2. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 3. IP Casino Resort & Spa Honorable Mention: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Isle Casino Hotel Biloxi

BEST PLAYERS CLUB

1. IP Casino Resort & Spa 2. Island View Casino Resort 3. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Honorable Mention: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Grand Biloxi Hotel, Casino & Spa

BEST GOLF COURSE

1. Fallen Oak: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino 2. Windance: Island View Casino Resort 3. Grand Bear: Grand Biloxi Hotel, Casino & Spa Honorable Mention: Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis

BEST ENTERTAINMENT 1. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 2. IP Casino Resort & Spa 3. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino Honorable Mention: Island View Casino Resort

BEST ENTERTAINMENT VENUE 1. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino 2. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 3. IP Casino Resort & Spa

BEST NIGHTLIFE

1. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 2. IP Casino Resort & Spa 3. Island View Casino Resort Honorable Mention: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Harrah’s Casino & Hotel New Orleans

BEST CASINO PERSONNEL

1. IP Casino Resort & Spa 2. Island View Casino Resort 3. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Honorable Mention: Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Harrah’s Casino & Hotel New Orleans

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

1. IP Casino Resort & Spa 2. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino 3. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi Honorable Mention: Island View Casino Resort, Grand Biloxi Hotel, Casino & Spa

BEST THEME

1. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 2. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino 3. IP Casino Resort & Spa Honorable Mention: Hollywood Casino Bay St. Louis, Harrah’s Casino & Hotel New Orleans

To see a full list of Awards, visit SouthernGaming.com today!

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FLORIDA

Best of Awards

BEST POKER ROOM

BEST ROOMS

BEST ENTERTAINMENT VENUE

BEST CASINO FLOOR (GAME VARIETY AND LAYOUT)

1. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa) 2. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood) 3. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Miami)

1. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood) 2. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Ft. Lauderdale) 3. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa)

BEST CASINO PERSONNEL

BEST OVERALL CASINO

1. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa) 2. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood) 3. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Ft. Lauderdale)

BEST RESTAURANT

1. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Ft. Lauderdale) 2. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa) 3. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Miami)

BEST BUFFET

1. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa) 2. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood) 3. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Miami)

1. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood) 2. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Miami) 3. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Ft. Lauderdale)

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

1. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Miami) 2. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa) 3. Mardi Gras Casino (Ft. Lauderdale)

BEST NIGHTLIFE

1. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa) 2. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Ft. Lauderdale) 3. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Miami)

BEST THEME

1. Mardi Gras Casino (Ft. Lauderdale) 2. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa) 3. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood)

1. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood) 2. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa) 3. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Miami)

1. Mardi Gras Casino (Ft. Lauderdale) 2. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood) 3. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Ft. Lauderdale)

BEST SUITES

1. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood) 2. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa) 3. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Ft. Lauderdale)

BEST AMENITIES

1. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood) 2. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa) 3. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Ft. Lauderdale)

BEST ADVERTISING

1. Mardi Gras Casino (Ft. Lauderdale) 2. Seminole Casino Coconut Creek (Ft. Lauderdale) 3. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood)

BEST PLAYER’S CLUB 1. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Hollywood) 2. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Tampa) 3. Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Ft. Lauderdale)

To see a full list of Awards, visit SouthernGaming.com today!

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gambling on the gulf BIG TIMES IN BILOXI

BY G . DOUGLAS DR E ISB A C H

Mississippi is known for a deep history of blues music, cotton fields as far as the eye can see and, of course, gambling.

Boasting severa l casino markets including Tunica, Vicksburg and Biloxi, they have all been through their trials and tribulations over the past decade…especially the Gulf Coast. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed v ir tua l ly ever y t hing in its path including several casinos, hundreds of homes and businesses and t he momentum of a striving community on its way to becoming a tier one vacation destination.

Fol low i ng t he stor m, rebuilding was immediate with everyone sharing in the responsibility of getting back to business as usual. Under the leadership of General Manager, Jon Lucas, IP Casino Resort & Spa jumped at the opportunity to offer their hotel to FEMA workers who were in town. Hundreds of people from volunteers to state workers started cleaning up miles of beautiful beaches stretching along Highway 90, and everything else that was involved in starting from scratch and getting back to where they left off before Katrina.

While Hurricane Katrina lies in the past, the times will never be forgotten. Memories of the hurricane stretch throughout the area including light posts and telephone poles with the high water marks from the ocean surge, amazing life-size carvings of dolphins and wildlife created with a chainsaw 24

Southern G aming an d De s t in a t io n s

BI L OX I , M I S S I S S I P P I boasts 26 miles of man-made beaches. out of damaged trees can be seen along Highway 90 and a memorial created by the popular television show Extreme Home Makeover hosted by Ty Pennington, stands across from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The memorial pays tribute to those lost to the storm and a glass enclosed time capsule with personal items from those in the community including a tree branch a man clung to for hours in the rising floodwaters to survive the surge.

Then, just last year, another blow to the Gulf Coast was felt when the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig, owned by British Petroleum had an explosion that caused a three month oil leak, estimated at almost five million barrels of crude oil, into the Gulf of Mexico. The spill caused extensive damage to marine and wildlife habitats and to the Gulf’s fishing

and tourism industries. Shorelines were drenched in oil from Florida to Louisiana but Biloxi was spared thanks to barrier islands just off the coast that served as a buffer to the oil and the beaches were virtually unchanged.

But, the perception that they were “Covered with Oil” spread far and wide as tourism dropped off, leaving thousands of hotel rooms vacant and restaurants looking for customers.

Oyster House which recently opened a second location in Biloxi near the Hard Rock Casino.

While gambling has been alive and well along the Mississippi coast dating back to the early 1900’s, it wasn’t until 1999 when casino mogul Steve Wynn made a major statement by building the $650 million Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, changing the entire South’s gaming landscape forever. With it s op en i ng , Wy n n On a recent visit to Biloxi, broug ht t he lu x u r y Southern Gaming toured of Las Vegas to t he t he com mu nit y a nd Southeastern United visited several stops that States with a miniature showed Biloxi once again replica of the Bellagio in weathered the storm and BE A U R I VAGE R E S O R T & C A S I N O Las Vegas, another Wynn was back, and better than cost $650 million and was built by Steve Wynn. creation, and making the ever! We visited some first step in declaring great stops including Biloxi a major resort t he Ohr-O’Keefe destination. Still today, Museum of Art that is when you walk into the dedicated to the work Beau, you feel like it is of the legendary “Mad opening weekend with Potter of Biloxi” George fresh flowers and plants Edgar Ohr (1857-1918). lining the atrium lobby Ohr was a potter from and columned hallways Biloxi whose designs cascading throughout rival some of the work the property. Artwork pottery masterpieces of a nd décor boa st i ng today, yet were created v i br a nt c olor s a nd nearly a century ago. out l a nd i s h d e si g n s He claimed that no two represent another Wynn pots he created were trademark. The variety of the same and many feel T H E H I P H A R D R OC K HO T E L & C A S I N O fine dining restaurants he was an artist whose is always a hot spot on the Coast. from award winning BR creations were far before Prime and Jia to the their time. In addition lavish amenities of the spa and resort-style pool paved to Ohr, the museum also features traveling exhibits with the way for others to follow suit with what would brand works of artists such as Andy Warhol, Jun Kaneko and Biloxi as we know it today.

Steve Wynn built Beau Rivage other renowned artists from Biloxi as well as throughout to withstand a category four hurricane by using a special the world. designed suspension system and reinforced structural Today, tourism is booming and the beaches are once support. The building did just that with minimal damage again active with swimmers and water sport activities. from Hurricaine Katrina. The property always excels in The picturesque soft white sand beaches stretch twenty everything they do, including this year’s Best of Southern six miles, the longest man made beach in the world, with Gaming Awards for the Gulf Coast, taking home Best a chain of barrier islands protecting the shore from large Overall Casino, Best Golf Course with the amazing Fallen waves providing a relaxing beach atmosphere. In addition Oak and Best Poker Room just to name a few. to the booming beaches, the casino floors are also buzzing The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was days from opening again with gamblers and tourists and major headliners when Katrina came through ultimately delaying the Grand are playing the marquee concert venues at IP Casino, Opening until July 7, 2007 with a marquee performance Beau Rivage, Hard Rock and others. And, when you go to

by Kid Rock. The Rock & Roll themed property is home the Gulf, you can expect an array of dining options from to authentic music memorabilia from Elvis, Kiss, Johnny seafood to steaks. Today, the restaurants around town and Cash, and more. Once you enter the property, you will at the casinos are turning tables again, including one of notice a look and feel that no other property in Mississippi Southern Gaming’s favorite locals restaurant, Half Shell Vol um e 13 I ssue 4

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every corner at this revitalized property, the true jewel lies on the thirty second floor of the hotel tower, ThirtyTwo Restaurant. As you enter the restaurant, there is a welcoming waiting area with plush leather seating. Just a few steps down a short hallway and you are greeted by a host stand with an 8,000 bottle wine room hovering behind. The restaurant features premium views of the coast with floor to ceiling windows, contemporary décor and an incredible wine room featuring bottles from regions around the world ranging in price from moderate to the ultra rare labels.

The room has won numerous awards from leading wine enthusiast publications and associations and they deserve it! There will be a full review of Thirty-Two in our Casino T H I R T Y-T W O R E S TA U R A N T Dining Guide that will come out in September, but just to at IP Casino is an award-winning venue. tempt your palate, the Bacon Wrapped Scallops accented with a Boursin Cheese Sauce were to die for. The Lobster has. Great music plays throughout the casino and bright Bisque had a great presentation with a large Lobster Craw white walls in the lobby keep the vibe going from the in the center of the bowl and the bisque poured over it moment you arrive. The Open and spread out casino floor tableside! For the entrée, the 8 is anchored by a large circular oz. Petite Filet didn’t disappoint bar in the center of the floor and you can’t go wrong with Southern Gaming’s Gulf serving premium cocktails and asparagus and potato hash to specialty drinks. The main focus Coast Quick Hit List accompany. While we dined at the at Hard Rock seems to be kick bar instead of a table, we enjoyed back, relax and let the good times Beau Rivage Resort, Casino & Spa the company of the bartender, roll. However, you will quickly 1-888-567-6667 • BeauRivage.com Nicole, who was very informative notice that their attention to and recommended a bottle of detail of customer service and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Nx NW, Columbia Valley 2007 premium player rewards are 1-228-374-ROCK • HardRockBiloxi.com that was excellent. In addition, plentiful with VIBE Restaurant, Nicole personally prepared the IP Casino Resort & Spa Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and decadent Crème Brulee table side 1-888-946-2847 • IPBiloxi.com an amazing nightclub on the that was a perfect temperature top floor overlooking the water Half Shell Oyster House and consistency. Don’t miss the of the Gulf of Mexico. Hard (Biloxi & Downtown Gulfport) full review on Thirty-Two in Rock recently received Best of Get the Oyster Sampler Platter! our September Issue! Also while Southern Gaming Readers’ Choice 1-228-867-7001 • HalfShellOysterHouse.com at IP Casino, don’t miss the Awards for Best Nightlife, Best pool! Located on the top floor Entertainment and an array of The Shed Barbecue & Blues Joint of the parking structure, you others…you can’t go wrong with (Ocean Springs, Gulfport & other locations) will find your Oasis awaits you this high energy property!

Best BBQ in the South! with cabanas, a large television Another property that emerged 1-228-875-9590 • TheShedBBQ.com overlooking the pool and cocktail bigger and better than ever after creations to die for! IP Casino Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art Katrina was IP Casino Resort isn’t a stranger to winning awards Several exhibits including George E. Ohr “The & Spa, a property that was in either, taking first place in this Mad Potter of Biloxi” desperate need of a total overhaul year’s Best of Southern Gaming 1-228-374-5547 • GeorgeOhr.org and rebranding. The property Awards for the Gulf Coast for was the first to re-open after Best Amenities, Best Restaurant Gulf Coast Tourism Commission Katrina, and with it came a new with Thirty-Two and Best Suites.

(Harrison County) look and feel that has received They also placed high in several Free visitor’s guide available on website accolades from customers (old other areas so you will find 1-888-467-4853 • GulfCoast.org and new) as well as industry pleasant surprises around every publications. If you haven’t been corner! to IP Casino since 2005, you If you are looking for a great wouldn’t recognize it today. As Southern getaway, consider the Gulf Coast! Biloxi you enter the property, you are greeted with the Chill offers every thing anyone would ever want in a Ultra Lounge featuring live music in an ultra chic lounge, vacation with an eclectic array of cultural offerings, a and Carnival de Brasil, a restaurant celebrating South beautiful beach, great gambling and memories to last American Churrascaria, Brazilian barbecue and meats a lifetime! carved right at your table. While there are treasures around 26

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There are other casinos in Biloxi,

BUT ONLY ONE BILOXI CASINO.

There’s no place like Biloxi. And no one embodies the spirit of the Gulf Coast like the Grand Biloxi Casino. Savor Gulf shrimp fresh off the boat. Or try our buffet with a new theme every day, like Dungeness Crab Wednesdays.

If you’re looking for music, every Saturday we have local bands inside and Gulf Coast Calypso outside. And don’t forget to hit it big with our new slots.

So if Biloxi is your k ind of tow n, the Grand Biloxi is your kind of casino.

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If someone gave you $1,000 to play in a casino slot machine, what would be your winning strategy? Would you put all of it in a $1,000-per-spin machine and take your shot with only one spin? Or would you divide your money up and play all of it over the course of several sessions?

Frank Scoblete’s newest books are “Slots Conquest: How to Beat the Slot Machine” featuring advantage-play slots that give players the edge, “Casino Craps: Shoot to Win” that comes with a DVD showing unedited controlled throws, “Cutting Edge Craps: Advanced Strategies for Serious Players”, and “Beat Blackjack Now: The easiest way to get the edge.” All books are available at bookstores, from Amazon.com or by calling 1-800-944-0406. If you would like a free month’s subscription to Scoblete’s private site and/or a free brochure, email fscobe@optonline.net or call 1-800-944-0406.

SLOTS

Slots: Money Management

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The math is clear on the subject. In games where the house has the edge — and it does on almost all slots — you are better off putting all your money through the machine at once. The $1,000-per-spin machine is the best machine for your $1,000. The math of slot play makes a loss more certain as time goes on, because that house edge eats away at your bankroll with every spin.

But in reality, the math is emotionally wrong, because slot players are not emotionless machines plugging away at the mathematically correct way to do things. If they were finely calculated machines, they wouldn’t play the negative-expectation slot machines. You are unlikely to find a slot player anywhere who would get a sustained thrill depositing all of his money into the machines at once. That’s not why they play. They play because they like to play! One bet is just not that satisfying.

So while the math of gambling says clearly to put all your money into the machine at once, the reality of slot play is much different. We want our money to stretch so that our time at the machine stretches, too.

To do that, we must manage our money in such a way that we don’t lose too much too soon. Being a good money manager at slots takes some realignment of one’s ideas.

Slot players will often give themselves much less money than they need to last long at the machines. For example, if you have $100 to play with, you should consider playing 15 or 25 cents at a time. Even so, a bad streak will see you with not much in reserve to launch a comeback.

My scenario will give you the most protection for your bankroll and the ability to last at the machines. Let’s say you want to play four hours a day for three days in your favorite casino. How much money do you need to bring to weather the worst of all possible scenarios — losing every spin? If we postulate spinning the reels once every 10 seconds, then we will lose six spins per minute, 360 spins per hour, 1,440 spins in one day, and 4,320 spins over the course of three days.

If you want to play for three days guaranteed, then give yourself enough money to do those 4,320 spins — worriless slot play, as no bad streak could wipe you out. At quarter machines, playing one at a time, you will need $1,080 for your three days. At a dollar machine, you’ll need $4,320, and at a $5 machine, you’ll need a whopping $21,600. I realize this is an end-of-the-world type of bankroll sizing, but it does guarantee you can play for the amount of time you wish to play without ever having to worry about going completely broke. And the chances of losing every single one of those 4,320 spins would be unheard of.

The machines you select should also figure into the equation. On any denomination machine, avoid the linked progressives, as the house edges on them are usually in the double digits. Stick to standalone machines that Frank Scoblete distribute the jackpots e quall y. D oin g t his stretches your time but does not stretch your risk.

I realize many slot players do not have my Armageddonish view of money management and are willing to risk a better chance of going broke than I am. If so, then cut my advice in half. Have $540 to play one coin in a 25¢ machine.

Let me reiterate something many slot players tend to forget: Playing slow is good. The tendency for most slot players is to increase speed as they play. That’s a prescription for bankroll disaster.

Having enough money to play the amount of time you wish to play is important, but it is equally important to keep the totality of spins within a reasonable range. If you are a speedster, then you have to stand up every few spins and stretch.

Let me lay out my super plan for semi-perfect slot play — although my plan obviously can’t guarantee you a win on a negative-expectation machine.

1. Do not play any progressive slot machines. While the average of the quarter machines might be a 90-percent return, factored into that average are all those progressives where the return is much worse.

2. Only play one coin in the machine per decision.

Playing full coin means paying three credits to increase the payback by a functional percentage, as most slot machines only reward you if you hit the big jackpot. That fractional increase in return doesn’t make up for the fact that you are putting in three times more money with each spin. Better still, select an equal-distribution machine that does not reward you for extra coins played.

3. Reduce how many spins you play. Instead of playing 12 per minute, play 6-8 per minute.

4. Bring enough money to last the entire time you wish to play.

5. Avoid all those small-change games that make you want to play dozens of coins. They are deadly for your bankroll.

One last thing: Always use your player’s club card in the slot machines. You want to get all the comps the casino is willing to give for playing their machines. Use my Armageddon money-management formula, and your slot fun will stretch nicely over time. Either that, or put all your money in at once … and pray!

For more free slots tips, visit southerngaming.com/slots

“I LIKE TO PLAY AT A PLACE THAT TREATS ME RIGHT. THAT’S WHY I LIKE PEARL RIVER.”

WWW.PEARLRIVERRESORT.COM

A DEVELOPMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI BAND OF CHOCTAW INDIANS

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cooking on the coast FOOD, FUN AND FLAIR OF THE REGIONS TOP CHEFS It is a well-known fact that casinos are home to some of the finest restaurants in the world. Whether you are in Las Vegas or your favorite Southern casino, you are sure to find excellence in culinary showmanship in everything from fine dining to wine selection. The magic that happens in the kitchen to prepare the dishes that end up on your table often goes unnoticed by most but appreciated by all. Not anymore!

On Saturday, Sept. 24, the white beaches of Biloxi, Miss., will welcome culinary connoisseurs from across the country in Southern Gaming Magazine’s Casino Cook-off presented by Four Roses Bourbon. The event will showcase the talents of top casino chefs and will take place as the marquee event of the 29th Annual Chefs of the Coast Culinary Weekend, the premier culinary event of the Gulf Coast.

The evening will showcase four top casino chefs who will compete in a live chef showdown. There will also be food stations that will represent each chef’s competition entry, a Four Roses Bourbon lounge featuring tasting samples, a wine tasting area with some of the leading wine labels from around the country, and live music by Sista Jazz with Rochelle Harper, one of the coast’s most popular jazz bands rounding out the evening.

“The entire weekend is basically a celebration of food, and the Casino Cook-off on Saturday night will be great party, too,” says G. Douglas Dreisbach, event producer and general manager of Southern Gaming Magazine. “When you combine a culinary event that has a 29-year history with the largest casino culinary competition in the history of the South, you know you are cooking up something good! We are honored to be a part of it all.”

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While the Chefs of the Coast has been around a long time, there has never been an official competition showcasing casino chefs. With many of the world’s leading chefs going to casino restaurants for more exposure, better pay and resume builders, the industry has seen a steady increase in fine dining over the years. As the largest gambling magazine dedicated to the Southern casinos, Southern Gaming took this opportunity to build a program that would recognize some of the amazing talents behind the scenes. So they teamed up with Chefs of the Coast and integrated the two concepts to enhance both events in what is sure to become one of the biggest food celebrations in the region.

The event expects to draw attendees from throughout the region as well as from the local community.

“We are excited to have the Southern Gaming Casino Cook-off as part of our Chefs of the Coast culinary weekend.

It’s a perfect fit for what the weekend is all about and expands the exposure of our local restaurants throughout the South — showcasing talents and giving foodies a culinary extravaganza,” says Calvin Coleman with the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association. “We look forward to seeing new faces from around the region this year.”

In efforts of expanding the reach of the event beyond the readers of Southern Gaming, partnerships were developed with several sponsors including Four Roses Bourbon, one of the best small-batch bourbons in the world, Viking Appliances, and Great Kitchens of Gulfport, one of the leading kitchen appliance and accessory stores in the region with locations in Gulfport, Mobile and Fairhope. In addition, AllRecipes.com and ManTestedRecipes.com stepped up with a major marketing partnership that expanded the footprint beyond the realms of

I N DU S T R I A L V I K I N G P L AT F O R M S will be used by the competing Casino Cook-Off contestants. gamblers and into the world of food fans across the nation. Both sites hosted the recipe entries and promoted the preliminary online recipe contests among the casino chefs, marketed the cook-off event and are also running separate sweepstakes featuring tickets to the Casino Cook-off, as well as some VIP Culinary Weekends that include tickets to all of the Chefs of the Coast event.

“We couldn’t do this without our sponsors. Four Roses Bourbon is amazing, Viking is a world leader in kitchen appliances, Great Kitchens is one of the largest kitchen appliance and accessory stores in the South, and Allrecipes and ManTestedRecipes are the largest recipe websites in the world. It made total sense for us to partner with each of them in our efforts to maximize exposure among food connoisseurs,” Dreisbach says. “Through these partnerships, we were able to build an event that really gives food and wine connoisseurs, and gamblers, yet another reason to visit the Gulf Coast.”

The weekend will kick off with a party in the re-invigorated downtown district of Gulfport on Friday, Sept. 23, with the Chefs of the Coast “Dash & Dine.” This event will feature live music, food, craft beer and flair contests. Hundreds of runners will storm downtown Gulfport in chef hats and celebrity chef costumes in a fun 3K run. This isn’t your typical race … this is pure fun and a great way to start the weekend.

On Saturday, Sept. 24, the Chefs of the Coast “Stockpot Cook-off” will take place at the Gulf Coast Convention Center overlooking the Biloxi beach. This event is always an afternoon fan favorite with cooking and ice-carving demonstrations, lots of children’s activities centered around cooking and baking, and, of course, sampling the chefs’ best stockpot recipes featuring fresh Gulf Coast shrimp. This year, you won’t want to miss the special amateur vs. professional throw-down as things heat up for the Best Overall Gulf Shrimp Recipe.

Also on Saturday, when the sun goes down, the cooking heats up! Don’t miss Southern Gaming Magazine’s Casino Cook-off presented by Four Roses Bourbon where the top four casino chefs from this year’s online recipe contest will compete in front of a live audience on signature Viking competition platforms

Chef’s of the Coast Culinary Weekend Itinerary: Friday, Sept. 23

Dash & Dine — 3K Run

Time: 5-8 p.m.

Location: Downtown Gulfport (route TBA) Website: www.ChefsoftheCoast.org Cost: $30 Runner Registration includes after-run food and craft beer

Saturday, Sept. 24

Chefs of the Coast Stockpot Cook-off Time: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Location: Mississippi Coast Convention Center Website: www.ChefsoftheCoast.org Cost: $15; children 12 and under are free

Southern Gaming Magazine’s Casino Cook-off presented by Four Roses Bourbon Time: 6 p.m.-10:30 p.m.

Location: Gulf Coast Convention Center Website: www.SouthernGaming.com/Cookoff Cost: $75 per person ($140 for two)

Southern Gaming Magazine’s Casino Cook-off Official After Party presented by Four Roses Bourbon

Time: (Party will begin after casino cook-off event is over) Location: TBD Cost: Complimentary with a Casino Cook-off wristband.

Sunday, Sept. 25

Chefs of the Coast Venetian Gala

Time: 5:30-10:30 p.m.

Location: Mississippi Coast Convention Center Website: www.ChefsoftheCoast.org Cost: $75 per person

Purchase tickets at ChefsoftheCoast.org or by calling 1-877-582-9478.

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T H E C H E F S O F T H E C OA S T V E N E T I A N G A L A features sample portions from over 50 restaurants. provided by Great Kitchens of Gulfport. Critiqued by a panel of culinary experts, each chef will have to prepare their masterpiece using Four Roses Bourbon, a pre-selected list of pantry items, and a “secret ingredient,” making for a surprise for spectators and competitors. The chef who receives the highest score will be crowned champion and receive cash, prizes and the honors of Top Casino Chef of the South! The Casino Cook-off is much more than a chef competition, however. With your entry to the event, you will also enjoy complimentary cocktails, food stations, bourbon and wine tastings, live music and more. Remember, this weekend is a party celebrating the culinary prominence of the South … don’t miss this amazing event! The night will also be rounded out with a VIP After Party at one of the casinos following the event … more details to come!

The weekend will wrap up on Sunday, Sept. 25, with the 29th Annual Chefs of the Coast Venetian Gala. This is another event you won’t want to miss! More than 50 of the coast’s hottest local restaurants will provide tasting portions of their signature dishes while wineries offer samples of their perfect pairings combined with live entertainment, dancing, incredible raffle items, a “Chefs Parade” and more. Chefs of the Coast is a fabulous evening celebrating the incredible cuisine that makes up the fabric of the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a culinary tourism destination.

So, if you like food, wine, casinos, beaches and great parties, this is a one-stop shop for you! Tickets can be purchased to each event individually or as a package.

To purchase tickets, visit ChefsoftheCoast.org or call 1-877-582-9478.

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T H E C U L I N A R Y TA L E N T S of regional chefs will be on display at the Casino Cookoff.

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BLACKJACK

The one question I am asked most often is “What can I do to win more when I play blackjack?” What follows are some simple steps you can take to do just that.

calculation yourself with this equation (courtesy of wizardofodds.com).

Learn the “Wizard’s Simple Strategy” If you don’t have the time or the energy to memorize the complete basic playing strategy, then learn the “Wizard’s Simple Strategy.”

Michael (“Wizard of Odds”) Shackleford developed the strategy, and it appeared in issue No. 116 of my Blackjack Insider Newsletter (www.bjinsider.com). The strategy is easy to learn and increases the house edge by 0.14 percent above the traditional basic playing strategy. It’s an ideal strategy for beginners and casual players, and it sure beats guessing when it come to deciding how to play your hand.

(x *b+f)/b where x=normal house edge; b=bet size; and f=fee charged.

Henry Tamburin is the editor of Blackjack Insider Newsletter (www. bjinsider.com), lead instructor for the Golden Touch Blackjack Course (www. goldentouchblackjack.com), and host of www.smartgaming.com. For a FREE three-month subscription to his blackjack newsletter, go to www.bjinsider.com/ freetrial.com. To receive his FREE Casino Gambling Catalog, call 1-888-353-3234 or visit www.smartgaming.com.

Blackjack: Jump Start Your Winning

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Don’t Play at Tables Where a Blackjack Pays 6-5 Traditionally, a player’s blackjack was paid at 3-2 payoff odds (you got a bonus payoff). Nowadays, you have to be careful and know what the payoff odds for a blackjack.

The reason? In order to generate more money, many casinos pay players only 6-5 when they get a blackjack.

If you are math challenged, a 6-5 payoff is much lower than a 3-2 payoff. This short-changed payoff increases the house edge by roughly 1.4 percent and makes it a whole lot tougher to win.

Check the Playing Rules Be selective where you play. Check the rules, because they aren’t always the same from one table to the next.

If it’s a double-deck game, having the dealer stand on soft 17 is better than if she must hit her soft 17 (ditto for six- and eight-deck games). Here is a list of some rules that will help you lower the house edge and improve you chances of winning.

• The least number of decks, the lower the house edge (assuming all the rules are the same) • Dealer stands on soft 17 (rather than hit) • No restrictions on what hands you can double down • Resplitting of aces • Surrender Don’t Make Side Bets Most blackjack tables nowadays include side bets (e.g., Lucky Ladies, Pair Squares, etc.). The side bets are another way for the casino to increase their revenue on the game. All side bets have a house edge that is greater than the game itself. The large payoffs are the come-on for side bets; however, the house edge will definitely make it harder for you to win when you play blackjack.

Don’t Pay to Play Some casinos have instituted a hand-fee, a small amount you must pay the casino on every hand you play (usually 25 to 50 cents for a $10 or less bet ... if you bet more, the fee increases). If you do the math, paying a fee to play a hand of blackjack can get expensive. You can do the

F or example, if the normal house edge on Hanry Tamburin the game is 0.4 and a 50 cents hand-fee, the house edge zooms to 5.4 percent on a $10 bet. (.004)*$10+0.50)/$10 = .54/10 = 5.4% CA Get Rated Always get rated when you play, because the casino will give you something back that has value (meal comp, show comps, room comps, etc.). Sometimes, the amount of the comps will offset your theoretical loss on the game.

Just get a player’s card and slide it to the dealer before you start playing. (For details about a casino’s comping policy, speak to a casino host.)

Use an Advanced Basic Strategy Playing Strategy A slightly more powerful basic playing strategy is based on the composition of your hand (not just the total count of the hand). For example, traditional basic strategy says to hit 16 against a dealer’s 10. However, with the advanced basic strategy, you learn to stand on all multi-card 16s against a 10 (so you hit 10-6 against a 10 but stand on 9-4-3 against a 10). You’ll find the advanced basic strategy on the Ultimate Basic Strategy Cards that you can take with you when you play (they are inexpensive and available in my online store at www.smartgaming.com).

Learn a Simple Card Counting System One sure way to win more than you lose is to learn a simple card counting system that will give you the mathematical edge when you play (betting progressions will not do this and can actually cause you to lose more money). A simple card counting system you can learn in less than hour is Speed Count, which was developed by my partner Dan Pronovost. Trust me, when I say Speed Count is easy to learn and use in a casino setting, I’m not kidding. You can learn more about Speed Count either on Dan’s website (www.deepnettechnolgies. com) or from Frank Scoblete’s new book, “Beat Blackjack Now!” (There is also a DVD that explains Speed Count using table demonstrations ... go to www. goldentouchblackjack.com for details.)

Get a Free Subscription to Blackjack Insider Newsletter I’m going to toot my own horn on this one. I have some of the best writers and players contributing their expertise in my blackjack newsletter that is emailed to subscribers every month. You can learn a lot about how to win from these experts. Go to this site to subscribe to the free (really, free) three issues: www.bjinsider.com/free.

For more free blackjack tips, visit southerngaming.com/blackjack

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smokin’ in the south TOP CIGARS OF 2011

BY CHAR LIE M IN AT O

surprise that 2011 has quickly shaped up to be another great year in the world of cigars.

In the middle of summer, the premium cigar industry will dawn upon the Las Vegas sun to show off some of its latest and greatest at the annual IPCPR convention.

Amongst the hundreds of cigars featured on the tradeshow floor will be a few that are worth noting, five cigars that are great additions to any humidor.

E .P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut While few know of Ernesto Perez-Carillo Jr., it’s near impossible to set foot in a cigar shop without recognizing the brand he helped reestablish in the United States.

After the Cuban Revolution in 1959, nationalization of private industry and embargo by the United States, many of the Cuban brands were re-established outside of Havana with cigars made in various Latin American countries. Some however took a different approach choosing to reestablish their companies in Miami, particularly in the Calle Ocho, or Little Havana.

In 1968, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Sr. reestablished La Gloria Cubana in Little C I G A R S H AV E G R O W N I N P O P U L A R I T Y Havana and his son, Ernesto Jr., continued over the past decade. to build the brand throughout the 20th century before selling it to General Cigar Co. in 1999. After a For the premium cigar industry, 2010 was a good year. Despite a 10-year contract with General ended, Carrillo Jr., with the help few large mergers that rocked the industry, the quality of cigars of his children, created a new brand, E.P. Carrillo. The first full the American consumer smokes was at an all-time high. Many year of existence saw hit after hit, most notably the Short Run began to usher in phrases such as “golden era” when describing (2010) and Core line. Given the first release of 2011, the second the marketplace in its current form. So it should come to no full year is looking even better.

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The E.P. Carrillo New Wave Connecticut (NWC) is PerezCarrillo’s take on the popular Connecticut shade wrapper (not to be confused with Connecticut Broadleaf). Often considered the lightest wrapper both in strength and flavor, Ernesto found a way to make it perhaps the most flavorful Connecticut shade wrapper cigar, ever. Sweetness, woods, nuts, leather, earth, cream and spice make up a flavor profile that is not found in any other Connecticut cigar to date. While the cigar is still mild in strength, the full flavor and medium-plus body make it a truly revolutionary Connecticut.

Made at Perez-Carrillo’s Tabacalera La Alianza S.A., the New Wave Connecticut is offered in four vitolas: the Stellas is a Corona measuring in at 5 1/8 x 42; Brillantes, a 5 x 50 Robusto; Divinos, a Toro at 6 x 52; and a Churchill, known as Gran, measuring in at 7 x 49. All four sizes come in boxes of 20 with extremely reasonable pricing. The Stellas (Corona) is $4.50, Brillantes (Robusto) has a MSRP of $5.25, Divinos (Toro) is priced at $6.25 and the Gran (Toro) is $7. All prices are before local taxes, but the entire line is offered at incredible price points.

The New Wave Connecticut is one of few mild cigars scheduled for 2011, fortunately it’s one of the best ever made. New smokers will be better able to understand why Ernesto Perez-Carrillo is a living legend, whereas seasoned cigar lovers will be shocked at the flavor, complexity and value in E.P. Carrillo’s newest line.

La Casita Criolla by Tatuaje Los Angeles-based Pete Johnson of Tatuaje/Havana Cellars has long promoted 2011 to be a year where he returns to his “core” line. To achieve this, Johnson has two major regular production lines slated for summer: Fausto and La Casita Criolla. Whereas Fausto is based off of a cigar that he previously made in a specific size for a Hawaii retailer, La Casita Criolla is based off an older style of cigar no longer made.

La Casita Criolla, like many of Tatuaje’s other brands (Ambos Mundos and El Triunfador), was an old Cuban brand that Johnson discovered and decided to resurrect. Much like in the past, he has tried to keep the packaging and artwork as close to the original cigar as possible, while giving consumers a topquality modern era cigar.

While the cigar is made in José “Don Pepin” Garcia’s My Father Cigars S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua, the tobacco is 100 percent American. That’s right, a cigar entirely made up of dark Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco, rolled by hand in Nicaragua.

Johnson hasn’t shied away from the fact that using all American Broadleaf has been done before, reminding smokers that many years ago it was quite popular to have an entirely American cigar.

Still, given the experience and expertise Garcia and Johnson have of working with Broadleaf for the nearly past decade, the cigar’s profile is something that has never been common.

La Casita Criolla will be offered in three sizes for 2011: HCB, a 5 1/8 x 42 Corona; HCBC, a 5 5/8 x 46 Corona Gorda; and HCBF, a 6 1/2 x 48 Double Corona. Like most cigars made by Pepin Garcia, each one will be topped off with a traditional Cuban triple cap. Pricing is still not finalized, but Johnson has stated that the largest size will retail for under $7 before local taxes.

A few details are still unknown, but the cigar itself is already a winner. Janny Garcia, director of finance for My Father Cigars,

has already set high expectations for sales, believing it will be one of the most successful cigars her family has made. Don’t let the dark wrapper deceive you, La Casita Criolla is actually a lighter cigar in strength and body than most would think given that it is entirely Broadleaf. Expect rich earth, sweet leathers, nuts, coffee and creaminess.

La Casita Criolla’s medium nature makes it a great buy for all sorts of smokers. Experienced aficionados will appreciate the uniqueness, delicacy and details that are employed, while novice smokers will be able to enjoy the flavors without an immense amount of strength.

Punch Rare Corojo 10th Anniversary This year marks the 10th year that General Cigar Co.’s Punch (not to be confused with the Cuban Punch brand) has released an annual release of the Punch Rare Corojo. In honor of the 10th anniversary, the cigar received a new size, a box-pressed 5 x 50 Robusto, and a secondary band that indicates the 10th Anniversary.

Corojo is a wrapper loved by a lot of seasoned smokers due to its bold spicy and cedar characteristics, although it usually doesn’t originate from Connecticut. However, given the recent success that General Cigar Co. has had with Connecticut tobaccos, there’s a lot of reason to believe the hype of the 10th Anniversary. Rich Chandler, director of marketing for Punch, described the 2011 approach: “For 10 years, cigar enthusiasts have looked forward to the annual return of Rare Corojo, a brand that features a unique reddish-brown wrapper and epitomizes the best of what Punch cigars offer — a spicy no-nonsense blend at a reasonable price.

This year, we’re pleased to have upped the ante by offering the classic Punch Rare Corojo along with the standout new taste of the 10th Anniversary front mark.”

The reddish brown wrapper is adorned with a great looking main band of reds outlining the unique shape of the pastel background.

The second features gold lettering to indicate the special occasion.

Overall presentation is one of the best that General Cigar Co. has had extending to the red boxes, which have details reminiscent of classic cars.

Flavor is classic Corojo with spice and cedar dominating a full flavor profile and earth, cocoa and natural tobacco giving the cigar depth. This is not for the faint of heart, as it is one of the fullest bodied and strength cigars that has come from the modern Punch brand.

While it was originally released in spring, shops are likely to have a few Punch Rare Corojo 10th Anniversary Robustos during summer, before the supply is completely gone. At the $6.50 price point, this is one of General Cigar Co.’s more memorable releases.

Quesada España Cuban cigars have been illegal in the United States since Feb. 7, 1962, when President Kennedy signed the embargo, so it seems a bit ironic that when the Quesada family decided to make a cigar that really tasted like a Cuban, they planned on releasing it only in Spain. A lot of people have tried to replicate the unique taste profile that is a great Havana cigar and most fail, miserably.

However, when Manuel “Manolo” Quesada, head of MATASA, attempted the task of competing with Havana’s finest in the cigar

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relatively smaller, one of the many changes Quesada made to suite the Spanish market. The España features an Ecuadorian Arapiraca wrapper, a tobacco mainly grown in Brazil, with Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers and a Dominican binder. Each cigar features two modern black bands with gold and silver details that present a very new age feel.

Flavors are delicacies that really don’t shine very often out of Havana: refined sweetness, spices, raisins, nuts, coffee, earth, citrus notes and leather. The España is rich, complex, refined and everchanging — an absolute masterpiece.

While it has full flavor and body, the cigar is particularly light on strength, much like a Cuban.

While the Queada España is going to be difficult to find given there are less than 100 boxes released to the U.S. market each month, if you have access to one, it’s a must try. Reilly describes the cigar best: “(It’s) supposed to taste like a Cuban cigar, but be able to stand on its own as well.”

For those who remember when Cubans were still legal, you’ll be reminded of just why they are so mystical. Most will be able to experience a flavor profile that is rarely found outside of contraband cigars. For those who have tried the España, most agree, this cigar is the frontrunner for the best cigar of 2011. Fortunately, the mild strength is accompanied by a detailed body and flavor, so anyone is able to enjoy this highly coveted cigar.

Zino Platinum Z-Class Swiss brand Davidoff has more than just its popular “White Label” under its wings. AVO, the brand of Avo Uvezian, Z I N O P L AT I N U M Z- C L A S S and Zino, named after company founder is a strong cigar made by Davidoff. Zino Davidoff, are also part of the fairly large Davidoff family, which recently crazy country of Spain, he ended up creating a non-Cuban cigar added Honduran brand Camacho to its portfolio. Following that really embodies a great Cuban cigar. the success of prior Zino releases and the 2010 release of the Avo “The entire thing was intended to the Spanish taste and profile Heritage, Davidoff created yet another stronger cigar to add to that the Spanish prefer, they are not really into the big ring its line-up, the Zino Z-Class. gauges,” says Terence Reilly of Quesada/MATASA. However, Like the Avo Heritage, the Z-Class is significantly stronger than when a few American retailers had the opportunity to sample the the cigars that made Davidoff famous, which are generally mild cigar in February, they immediately requested that it be brought in strength. Also like the Avo, the Zino Platinum Z-Class is less to the U.S. market. “Most of the production going to Spain, but if expensive than your typical Davidoff, which usually sits at the you look really hard you can find it,” Reilly says. There are only top of the market in terms of price. a handful of retailers that have the España and their supply is limited, but there are plans to continue the monthly shipments This year marks the 20th year that Davidoff has been making through the end of the year. cigars in the Dominican Republic since leaving Cuba in the late 1980s. Cigar maestro Hedrick “Henke” Kelner and his son head Quesada makes three formats of the España: a 4 x 50 Petit Robusto priced at $7.95, a 5 x 52 Robusto retailing for $8.50 up the team at TABADOM that is responsible for producing all and a 5.5 x 42 Corona that sells for $7.25. All three sizes are Davidoff, AVO, Zino and a few other brands. Never to be shy with 38

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a diversity of tobaccos, Kelner uses a Dominican Yamasa Rojza wrapper with a binder from Peru and filler tobaccos mostly from Nicaragua with a bit of Honduran tobacco as well.

Four sizes of the Z-Class are offered: a 5 7/8 x 54 Toro is known as the 654 T and priced at $12, the $10 550 R is a 4 7/8 x 50 Robusto, the 546 P is a 5 1/4 x 46 Piramide retailing for $9, and the 643 C is the least expensive vitola with a $8 price tag for the 5 5/8 x 43 Corona. All feature black bands and are packaged in some incredible streamline tins that hold 20 cigars inside.

While Estelí and Jalapa Ligeros, both from Nicaragua, are not rare tobaccos at all, the Peruvian binder is something extremely unique. The binder for the Zino Z-Class is Pelo de Oro (also known as Habano Oscuro), a tobacco almost never used in the modern cigar world. The tobacco, which translates into “golden hair” in Spanish, is known to be susceptible to a unique blue mold that makes it difficult grow successfully. Cuba banned the use of the tobacco due to this problem, and while few even dare try to grow it, there have been attempts in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. However, the Peruvian soils have had great early results with the old Cuban seed and the Zino Platinum Z-Class, like the AVO 85th, released earlier this year has utilized the unique tobacco anomaly.

Expect a delicate sweetness from honey, molasses and brown sugar to dominate the flavor of the cigar with nuts, spices, cedar and chocolate finding their way into the profile. The more seasoned smoker might be able to get orange peel, barnyard and oaky notes. For those that aren’t fans of the typical Davidoff profile, known as a distinct complex barnyard, the Zino Platinum Z-Class will be at the other end, while still retaining the complexity and smoothness that is Davidoff.

While Davidoff and Zino Platinum brand manager Richard Krutick claims “(The Zino Platinum Z-Class is) the fullest bodied Zino Platinum to date,” it’s nowhere over medium-plus in strength. Body and flavor are both close to the full range, with an overall profile slightly below some of the recent Zino Limited Editions of late.

For the occasional smoker, the Zino Platinum Z-Class is probably a bit much. Fortunately, Davidoff has a host of offerings in the Zino line as well as its other brands. However, experienced smokers are going to enjoy the fuller nature and lighter price tag of the Zino Platinum Z-Class.

While there are plenty of great new cigars on the market, particularly the five aforementioned, 2011 still has plenty of great releases left for the remaining part of the year.

Oliva Cigar Co.’s new outfit Studio Tobac (parent of their popular Cain and NUb brands) is partnering with Ernesto Padilla to create the Padilla Studio Tobac Figurado. The limited-edition cigar is likely to bring a high price tag, but will surely be popular during August, the scheduled release date. Janny Garcia will be the third member of the Garcia family (joining father Jose “Pepin” and brother Jaime Garcia) to have a cigar made for her, the La Dueña (the owner), scheduled for August.

Padrón, the highly-respect Nicaraguan company, will show off its Padrón Family Reserve 47th on Sept. 8, 2011. Given the excellence found in the other Family Reserve releases, the 47th is easily one of the most anticipated cigars of the year.

October is likely to bring two of the more notable releases of the year. Pete Johnson’s annual Monster Series is the unanimous winner for “Most Buzz” each and every year, and the 2011 iteration should be no different. Pete has said this year’s Monster Series, a different limited release each year named for a vintage horror movie character, will be “The Wolf.” Like last year’s “The Face,” French luxury accessory maker S.T. Dupont will be making limited-edition accessories to accompany the Tatuaje. In addition, Ernesto Perez-Carillo has said the E.P. Carrillo Limited Edition 2011 is scheduled for either October of November.

Closing out the year is December, a month where the Fuente family brings out all of the goodies just in time for the holiday season. The popular Fuente Fuente Opus X line, as well as the Añejo and special editions of the Hemingway series of Figurados, are a December tradition that every cigar smoker patiently awaits.

Most of the cigars mentioned are only available at a local cigar shop, as opposed to the popular cigar catalogs. Your local tobacconist can assist you in all of your cigar purchases including lighters, cutters and humidors, as well as of course, cigars. For a year like 2011, a good tobacconist is a priceless asset given the amount of new cigars that will land on shelves. No matter the size, price or origin of your favorite cigars, 2011 will be a memorable occasion.

Like cigars?

If you live in Louisville, KY (or near it) come to Southern Gaming’s Summer Smoke Outs presented by Horseshoe Casino Southern Indiana! Get a FREE premium cigar, great discounts on Woodford Reserve Bourbon and giveaways! For a list of dates now thru September, visit Southerngaming.com/2011smokeouts

Charlie Minato is the founder and editor of TheCigarFeed.com, a cigar blog dedicated to quality reviews, news and editorials.

TheCigarFeed’s 2011 Cigar Release List, available exclusively online, is considered the definitive source for cigar release news and information.

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VIDEO POKER

There was a time when everybody simply signed up for a free slot club card and smart players always made sure it was inserted. Now there are more considerations and even times when you shouldn’t bother with it.

Card/No Card: Not too long ago I visited a new casino in Maryland where slot cards were issued but there were zero benefits since they were just setting things up. They did know enough to seek a player base but weren’t offering a single benefit. I did use the card in hopes of future mailers. In situations like this it’s a toss up regarding whether or not to use a card.

Linda Boyd, a long-time table game player before turning to video poker, writes for “Southern Gaming”, “Midwest Gaming and Travel” and “Arizona Player”. Look for her article in the 2011 Edition of American Casino Guide.

Her book, “The Video Poker Edge”, includes free removable pay schedules and her free strategy cards for the most popular games. The Second edition with a 2010 publishing date is being sent by amazon, Square One Publishers and book stores. Kindle edition now available.

Video Poker: Slot Club Cards

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There was, however, a time when I used my card and lived to regret it. My comp status was actually lowered at a Laughlin, Nevada casino with the explanation that I only played the best machines. In hindsight, I should have skipped the card since my past play more than covered any comps and they weren’t offering cash for points on this particular bank.

Someone Else’s Card: Not long ago I was reading responses to a question about having a friend play on their card. This became a big deal with adamant opinions one way or the other. If your spouse is using your card casinos tend not to make a big deal and some casinos allow it. If in doubt simply check at the slot club or ask your host. I really wouldn’t worry if you accidentally leave a card in a machine and somebody plays on it.

On the other hand, deliberately leaving your card in the machine in hopes that somebody will add points is to be discouraged.

Card-Pulling: Some players pull their card when they are dealt a hand with a good potential of hitting a jackpot. For example, three of a kind or four to a royal both have a reasonable chance of converting to either quads (four-of-a-kind) or a royal, respectively. The object is to lower their total winnings on their win/loss statement. This is a bad idea and you could be caught by the eye-in-the-sky and banned from the casino.

Checking During Bonus: Some gamblers play both video poker and slots. There’s usually no problem with your card registering the correct amount of points when you play video poker. Sometimes the weight of the cards on your bungee cord may cause the card to stop recording points, but this is rare. On the other hand, with some slots there is a long bonus round so you’ll have to check to make sure all your points are going through. The reason is there’s a timer on some slots that stops recording after an interval of time has elapsed. That’s to discourage people from deliberately leaving their card in a device.

Spouse’s Sharing: If the casino allows spouses to use the same card then you’ll have to compute the pros and cons of sharing or going solo. This varies from casino-tocasino and also depends on the benefits you most value.

Video Poker Edge: If two casinos offer the same video poker game then you should inquire about slot club

benefits at each of them Make sure you ask about the bounceback cash that comes in the mail. Of course, the edge goes to the casino with the best slot club rewards.

Computing Cash Value: You’ll want to know the cash value of Linda Boyd your points so you can add them to the ER (expected return) and select the best video poker play. Here’s how you do it: • Multiply the cost of each point by the amount of points needed to earn a specific amount of money.

• Divide the cash back earned by the amount of coin in required to earn it.

• Convert the decimal to a percent by moving the decimal point two places to the right and adding a percent sign.

Here’s a specific example: Let’s say it costs $10 of coin in to earn a point and 40 points are worth a dollar.

Each point costs $10 and it takes 40 points to earn a dollar. So you multiply $10 X 40 to determine how much coin in is needed to earn a dollar. $10X 40= $400 This means it costs you $400 in coin in for every dollar they pay you in cash back.

In this case you divide one dollar (the cash back) by the $400 needed to earn it.

1/400= .0025 3. .0025= .25% You now know this casino pays you .25% cash back for your play.

Tax Report: If you itemize your taxes then you can write off your winnings against your losses on your federal return and in some cases on your state return as well.

(You’ll have to check with the state in which you reside since some allow it and others don’t.) If you don’t use a player’s card then it’s impossible for the casino to provide you with this information. Be aware that the win/loss statement is considered a supporting document and you’ll want as much data as possible should you get audited.

Final Thoughts: My philosophy is there’s no such thing as a free lunch. If a casino wants valuable information about my play, my address and anything else required during sign-up, then they have to offer an incentive. If you’re not sure just ask at the desk and you might even let them know you won’t be getting a card until there’s a reason. Mostly, you’ll find comps, cash or both. In addition using a slot card helps at tax time since casinos will use the information on your card to provide you with a win/loss statement.

For more free video poker tips, visit southerngaming.com/videopoker

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turmoil in tunica FAST ROAD TO RECOVERY

BY RUDI S C HIFFE R

T H E F I T Z C A S I N O & HO T E L blends with the Mississippi, with the sub garage totally submerged.

The flood waters have receded and the damage is done, but Tunica’s nine casinos are not dwelling on the Great Flood of 2011. They are instead keenly focused on the recovery process that was jumpstarted with a huge throng of slot-starved gamblers swarming to the northern Mississippi jurisdiction for the Memorial Day holiday.

There were dire predictions that the nine Tunica casinos would be closed for an estimated three to six weeks after the near-record flooding began causing severe damages in early May. However, those forecasts did not take into account the motivation of the casino staff to open their doors as soon as possible. Each lost day for the casinos meant a dramatic loss of revenue, and with already an estimated $90 million washed away, the road to recovering was swift.

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Gold Strike Casino Resort was the first to welcome customers back, followed quickly by Roadhouse and Horseshoe. General Manager George Goldhoff led a team of employees and emergency contractors with a concentrated push to reopen, and it did so in only two weeks. One of the reasons Gold Strike’s casino had limited damage was because it used 8footx100foot long barriers, which filled with 90,000 gallons of rising floodwater around the main buildings. The barriers, along with other measures, made quite the difference.“It was great to have our 1,400 team members back at work!” says Goldhoff. “This has had a positive effect not only for our property, but for the local economy while simultaneously fueling Mississippi tourism. The reopening has ignited tourism for the region.”

In addition to urgent volunteer work by Tunica team members,

access roads and lake-like parking lots.

However, they too put a lot of effort into getting back in business.

T H E L E V E E C A F É AT GO L D S T R I K E provided free hot meals each day.

MGM Resorts employees from Beau Rivage on the Gulf Coast, some 150 of them, were rushed in to assist with the floodwater damage, bringing their battle-tested experience from Hurricane Katrina.

Caesars Entertainment followed on the heels of the Gold Strike’s opening by getting Roadhouse up next and followed the next day by opening Horseshoe. This trio of casinos are neighbors, who came together and provided an immediate impact by working hard to reopen. Hundreds of employee volunteers also provided a strong boost to getting back in business for Roadhouse and Horseshoe. A nice and welcome touch was provided by Caesars, which donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross. Harrah’s took a little longer to clean up but was ready to go for the Memorial Day weekend.

Webster Franklin, CEO of the Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau applauded the openings. “The nine casinos in the county, as well as the smaller businesses in the area, took a big hit,” he says. “Luckily we were able to move forward quickly and recover … if anything, the casino industry is resilient.”

When the Mississippi River crested at 47.8 feet, it washed away more than sand from the traps at the completely flooded RiverBend golf course next to Hollywood Casino; it eroded huge amounts of revenue with an estimated loss of some $90 million, which in turn caused a tax revenue loss of some $10 million for the flood month. This did not take into account the payroll taxes for 9,300 casino employees, which caused a ripple effect on area businesses from gas stations to local shops that represent key support for the tourism economy.

But the recovery was well underway as casinos scrambled to get their doors open. We all know from the past that when revenue is on the line, casinos get it done, and quickly. Fitz was the next to open, and although it sits on a bluff on the river, the surrounding waters were kept back by the same water-filled barriers.

In Casino Strip where Hollywood, Sam’s Town and Resorts were clustered, openings were hampered mostly by flood-covered

Not only have these Tunica casinos worked to re-open their doors to satisfy their gambling guests, but the staff at Gold Strike used their unexpected downtime as a chance to give back to the community and help those in need.

Gold Strike Tunica and the American Red Cross teamed up to provide support to Mississippi and Tennessee residents whose lives have been disrupted by the historic f looding. During the resort’s temporary closure, more than 40 employees completed training in damage assessment and shelter operations and participated in a drive to gather items for the local Red Cross chapter to deliver to disaster victims.

Several workers also donated supplies and made financial contributions to the flood and tornado victims, and seven Gold Strike employees embarked on the three-hour drive to Smithville for delivery. “We were just paying it forward,” says Gold Strike dealer Rhonda Rose. “We were fortunate to be paid full pay and benefits while Gold Strike was closed, so why not help someone else?”

The “Levee Café,” a temporary dining facility, was established and provided free hot meals 24 hours a day, seven days a week for employees, emergency management, first responders, law enforcement, gaming industry employees and others during the resort’s closure. During the first week of the mandatory closures, Gold Strike served approximately 400 meals each day at the Levee Café. In preparation for the flood, the culinary team emptied Gold Strike’s food pantries and freezers and prepared three full meals each day for crews that were helping respond to the disaster.

“The gaming industry has transformed the Tunica area into one of the great tourism success stories of the last two decades,” Franklin says. “The Great Flood has proven to everyone what we have known for quite some time — that the industry is made up of great corporations that employ great people and that when called upon, will always answer the call. It’s unfortunate that it takes a disaster to realize the true impact of the casinos on our local and state economy. We, however, are very fortunate to have a group of dedicated corporations willing to work together during the fast-forward recovery process. We are open and thankful for that.”

Rudi Schiffer is a former Associated Press editor and feature writer who currently hosts the “Goodtimes” radio show for Mississippi Casinos.

Known as “The Voice of Tunica,” he is also a columnist for Jackpot Magazine and contributes articles to CasinoCityTimes.com.

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HORSERACING

If you have been playing the races this year and are not happy with the results you’ve been getting recently, then it is always a smart idea to take a step back and analyze the situation. What are you doing right, and more importantly, what exactly are you doing wrong?

6. You look for the quick fix, such as the hot tip from an insider, or the magic formula designed to pick 78-percent winners. No such formula exists, and insider information cannot be relied on over a long-term basis.

therefore lack conviction in your own selections.

This is a game of opinion. Wager on your own.

Check the scenarios above that apply to you, then consider the steps you need to take to fix the problems.

Doing so, you will place yourself well above the general public, which, we should always remember, is your competition for the wagering dollar. When you minimize the number of mistakes made, your confidence will soar, because you will be winning more often. And that is the reason we handicap the horses.

Rich Nilsen is an eight-time qualifier to the National Handicapping Championship and the only player to finish in the top 10 twice. A former executive with Brisnet.com, Rich is now founder of AllStarPress.com, an e-book publishing firm, and AGameofSkill.com, a site devoted to horse racing education and promotion.

Horseracing: Why Handicappers Lose Money

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7. You blame the outcome on an imaginary “fixed” My father used to remind me race instead of looking at the reasons that pointed that horse racing will teach to the true winner. I highly recommend that you look a person to lose better than back over the races you handicapped and dissect any other sport or recreation. the past performances to see why you may have Truer words have never been missed the winner(s). All too often, you simply spoken missed an important clue. about this game, because horse 8.

You fail to notice the bias racing can often be a real rollerat the track, resulting in wasted coaster ride. Successful players My father used to money on horses that have the are able to ride out the bad times in odds stacked against them. Put remind me that horse order to reach the “high” moments. the percentages in your favor by Successful players also recognize racing will teach a wagering on horses that fit the their faults and consequently profile of the track or the current make fewer mistakes than their person to lose better bias. competition. This is a pari-mutuel than any other sport game, so I am your competition.

9.

You are betting scared money, having no bankroll set or recreation. If you If you are not getting the results you aside for horse race betting. You anticipate when you play the horses, are not relying of your should always have dedicated chances are that you consistently funds for wagering. fall into one or more of the following own personal notes … scenarios: 10.

You have no plan or then you are wagering strategy for wagering. You often 1. You are picking a decent get in line without knowing your at a significant percentage of winners, but bets, or you jump on your online your wagering strategies are disadvantage versus wagering site with just a few causing you to lose money. (See minutes to post and rush your reason No. 5.) the more sophisticated wagers.

2. You are betting every single players.

It is safe to say that most race instead of looking for prime handicappers have committed spot plays. This is the cardinal the mistakes listed above. Of sin of most bettors. Focus on course, the difference lies in who your best wagers of the day. continues to make the same mistakes and who does 3. You are employing the same information to not. If you feel as though your selections are good, then handicap that the general public is using. If you consider your wagering strategy. Are you swinging for are not relying of your own personal notes or a site the fences every time, looking to crush the trifecta, like Brisnet.com that provides value-added racing meanwhile missing the exacta? Consider knocking your information, then you are wagering at a significant bets down, keying in on the Daily Double instead of the disadvantage versus the more sophisticated Pick-3 or the exacta instead of the trifecta. The inevitable players. result is that you will cash more tickets and restore your confidence.

4. You are easily swayed by other people’s input, and

5. You concentrate most of your wagers on lowpercentage bets. For example, you may be going after too many exotic wagers, such as trifectas and Pick-3s, which can be both difficult to hit and are based on high takeouts (the amount withheld by the track).

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Southern Gaming presents...

great reads DECIDE TO PLAY GREAT POKER

BY A NN IE DUK E

We are excited to bring you a new column, Great Reads by Southern Gaming. In each issue, we will feature a new book that we feel our readers would enjoy. Some may be tip oriented and some may be fictional, but regardless, we hope you will enjoy our selections!

This is an excerpt from world-renown poker professional Annie Duke’s new book, Decide to Play Great Poker.

Decide to Decide The First Rule is There are No Rules Study the following chart of starting hands very carefully.

Did you notice that there’s no chart? Good. You’ve taken your first step toward understanding a new way of playing no-limit Texas hold ’em, an approach that focuses your attention not on starting hand charts, but on the decisions you make, on how to make better decisions at the poker table than your opponents do. Being the best decision-maker at a table, not following a hand chart in some book you’ve read, will turn you into a big winner in poker.

which you ever participate will be different from the last one.

The limitation of rule-driven thinking comes from the fact that every poker game is unique, even if you’ve played the same Wednesday-night game every week with the same eight friends for the past eight years. As with snowflakes, no two Wednesday nights will be the same. Maybe your usually solid opponents are drinking. … In fact, if you think about it, the game shifts not just from session to session, but from hand to hand and even moment to moment. That’s because your poker game has both a global context (the general attributes and abilities of the players) and a local context (what’s happened recently in the game itself).

Has the person you’re playing this hand against been winning or losing for the past half-hour? Did he just take or give a bad beat?

I’ve seen books teach the rule, “If everyone folds around to your button, you should always raise.” But if the small blind is on tilt and clearly looking to shove his whole stack and you’re holding 72 off-suit, would now really be a good time to follow that rule?

I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t.

Of course, a decision-science approach to poker is not the only way to think about the game. Some people take a strictly mathematical approach, where percentages are the only driving factor in their play. Others take an approach that talks about things like “feel.” … the most common approach I’ve seen in poker books is the method where the book lays down rules. It tells you things like which hands you should play in what position and gives you firm guidelines like, “Always raise three times the big blind.” It has rules for everything from bluffing frequency to how much to tip.

In this book, you won’t learn a bunch of rules that can never be broken. … Instead, what you’ll learn is a conceptual framework, one that teaches you how to set goals, execute strategies based on those goals and, fundamentally, think about the purpose of every action you take at the table. This framework will give you an understanding of what your purpose is on every bet during every hand of every session of poker you ever play again. That’s an ambitious goal, I know, but I assume you wouldn’t involve yourself with this book if your goals weren’t ambitious and if you weren’t already ready to move beyond rules into a much more fluid and deeply felt grasp of the game.

The issue I have with rule-driven teaching is that it’s much too rigid (except the tipping part—always a good idea to tip).

Why? Because it turns poker players into rote thinkers, and rote thinking is much too simplistic for the dense, complex, complicated, and infinitely variable game of no-limit Texas hold ’em. I don’t understand how someone can give you a rule about how to play the game of poker when every single game in

Tools, Not Rules So instead of rules, I want you to think for a moment about tools. Think about what’s in your poker toolbox. You have tools in that box like raising, calling, folding, check-raising, checkraise bluffing, and so on. When you consider something like a raise, you’re really asking, “Is this the right tool for the job?”

Just as you’d ask if your screwdriver, hammer, or keyhole saw

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the intention to fold; if you raise, how big? You can see that the situation is complex. Rules alone won’t get this difficult job done.

Here’s why: POKER IS A GAME OF DECISION-MAKING UNDER CONDITIONS OF UNCERTAINTY Underline that. Highlight it in yellow. Understanding this concept will change the way you think about the game and allow you to become a great player. Once you understand that poker is a game of decision-making under conditions of uncertainty, you really understand the fundamental problem the game presents, and you can now set about to determine your ultimate goal for any hand of poker you play.

is the right tool for your carpentry job, you should be asking if raising or folding or checking is the right tool in a poker hand.

All of your tools represent choices you can make in poker, and here’s a secret: No tool is any better or worse than any other tool.

You just have to use your tools appropriately, for the right job.

So let’s forget about rules. Instead, let’s focus on understanding your goals as a poker player, because once you understand your goals, you can figure out your purpose and what you’re trying to accomplish in each hand you play. Only then can you live a purposeful life in the game of poker.

Why? To that end, let me ask you a question: Do you always know why you’re doing what you’re doing at the table? You should. It should be the case that if I, or anyone, tapped you on the shoulder and asked you the purpose of that action you just took, you could state it, clearly and succinctly. And I mean a very detailed explanation. If you just bet $70 into a $130 pot, you should be able to tell me not only why you chose to bet instead of check, but also why you chose to bet $70 instead of $50 or $100 or any of the other choices you had.

Most people can’t do this; they can’t really verbalize why they do what they do during a hand. Even some top pros can’t do it. …

Think about all the possible decisions you could make during a hand of poker: whether to raise now or raise on a later street; whether to check in an attempt to check-raise or check with

When you’re playing hold ’em, you’re required to make your decisions with incomplete information—far from complete, in fact—meaning you know what your two cards are, but you can’t see your opponents’ cards. Let’s pause for a moment and compare poker to another dense, complex, complicated, and infinitely variable game: chess. If you ask the general public what they think is the most difficult game out there, they’ll probably say chess. This is because in chess, you have to think many levels deep to be really good. You have to think through the implications of every move you consider in terms of what your opponent’s possible responses might be and what your possible responses to his possible responses might be and so on. The more levels deep you try to go, the more complicated the decision trees become.

The best players in the world can simply think more levels deep than everyone else. Now, I don’t disagree that chess is an intensely difficult game to become good at. That said, in chess you can see the whole board. In chess, you have complete information.

You can see all of your opponent’s pieces right there in front of you and there’s only one opponent, which kind of makes things easier, too. On top of that, there’s no random element. No little chess gnomes come running up during the game and randomly steal pieces off the board. Because you can see the whole board and there are no random elements, you can theoretically make a perfect decision at each decision point. The only thing you don’t know for sure is what your opponent has in mind, but since he has a theoretically optimal move, you should be able to come up with the mathematically best move all the time.

Is poker like chess? Sure, yeah, exactly … except imagine playing chess where you could see only half of your opponent’s position. Then chess would be a game of decision-making under conditions of incomplete information as opposed to what it is, decision-making under conditions of complete information.

Now imagine a game just like chess that has all the complexity of the decision-making process in terms of how many levels deep you must go, but has incomplete information and that’s poker.

So when I say poker is a game of incomplete information, I start from the premise that almost all the information you need has yet to be collected.

Annie Duke is one of the game’s most decorated players, and was recently named the Executive Vice President and League Commissioner for the new professional poker league, Federated Sports + Gaming. Decide to Play Great Poker, written with John Vorhaus, is her latest book.Get your copy at ShopLVA.com or Amazon.com, or download it for your Kindle or Nook. You can also purchase the book by calling 1-800-244-2224, or in major bookstores nationwide.

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preseason primer: A BETTOR’S BLISS, THE NFL

BY MI K E HOOK

The NFL season is upon us, or is it? The potential lockout (at the time of publishing) has everyone up in arms and more than a little confused as we enter the season. Just how big of an impact the lockout has on the NFL can’t be answered this year. Assuming we do have a full season, there are plenty of storylines entering the season.

One storyline is the ever-growing popularity of the NFL Draft.

This year’s draft was held on prime-time TV during the middle of the week to capture huge television ratings. The 2011 Draft Class brings some talented and high-profile college players into the mix. Carolina selected Quarterback Cam Newton with the first overall pick of the draft. The last time we saw Newton on the field, he was leading Auburn to a win over Oregon for the BCS Championship. Newton becomes must-see TV the moment he takes the field under center. With the No. 2 pick, Denver selected Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller. The Broncos have plenty of holes on defense, and adding Miller will be a huge asset for Denver in the AFC West. Defensive Tackle Marcell Dareus was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the No. 3 overall pick. Dareus was a beast at Alabama, and he’s already caught media attention for his frustration over “falling” to the third overall pick. Add in quarterbacks like Jake Locker and Blaine Gabbert, along with wide receivers such as A.J. Green and Julio Jones, and the NFL has an explosive set of rookies likely to make a difference both on and off the field. Speaking of Julio Jones, the Atlanta Falcons wide receiver is the odds on favorite at 5-1 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Defensively, Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson is 4-1 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year for this season.

One can’t preview the NFL without talking about the phenomenon known as “Monday Night Football.” “Monday Night Football” is the highest rated television show week in and week out. Sports bettors all over the country ensure that each and every play is watched from start to finish. One of the oldest trends in the NFL is to back the home underdog on “Monday Night Football.” The theory behind this trend is that the home 48

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underdog will be extra motivated to avoid embarrassment with a nationally televised audience. Over the past two years, we’ve seen a handful of occasions where the home underdog has won outright as an underdog of more than a touchdown. Just ask the San Diego Chargers and the AFC West for proof of this trend.

Another popular trend is to go against the general betting public in the Sunday night affair. After wall-to-wall action all day Sunday, it’s no secret that plenty of casual bettors chase their way through an NFL Sunday. The Sunday night game always leaves bettors one final game to go all in on. Oftentimes, NFL bettors do exactly that, betting so much money in the hour leading up to the start of Sunday night football that odds-makers end up moving the line a half point or even a full point. In other words, the only side that offers value in the final hour leading up to the Sunday night affair is the side opposite the betting majority.

From a betting perspective, the hottest phenomenon in the NFL is live betting. Live betting literally allows you to place a wager on every single play of every single game in the NFL. As always, the betting community is a diverse group with various betting needs. For some, the appeal of wagering on every single play is comparable to a kid at Disneyland. For others, wagering on every play would just mean losing your entire bankroll that much faster. Online sportsbooks have followed the success of in-live betting closely, so various sportsbooks offer their own type of live betting features.

Speaking of various sportsbooks, it’s absolutely vital for even the casual sports bettor to have multiple accounts spread across multiple sportsbooks if you aren’t able to make all your wagers live in Nevada. Each online sportsbook is notorious for being a specific type of book that caters either to the majority of the betting public all the way to the intense professional bettor.

These books often offer different point spreads on each game.

The professional term for this is “acquiring outs.” Just like at the grocery store, it’s quite important to be able to compare prices on specific items, and ultimately choose the item that bests suits

I L L U STRATI O N BY D ENNI S MCKI NSEY

your needed price. Sports betting is no different, with the price in this case being the listed point spread.

Bettors love to bet football more than any other sport, and there isn’t even a close second. NFL takes precedent over college football simply because there are only 32 teams, as opposed to 120 college football teams. With 32 teams, the casual sports bettor is familiar with each team in the NFL. With so much public money added to the mix, NFL odds-makers have their work truly cut out for them. Setting true lines and lines created to split the betting action are often an impossible task in the NFL. Odds-makers don’t worry about the public betting action nearly as much as they do the sharp, professional bettors who are waiting to pounce on any public induced line.

The most public of teams entering 2012 are the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots, both of which are 7-1 to win the 2012 Super Bowl. They are the only two teams with odds less than 10-1. The Pittsburgh Steelers are 11-1, the third betting favorite. The San Diego Chargers are 12-1, while the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets are 14-1, rounding out the top Super Bowl contenders.

Last season, we saw two teams make the playoffs with preseason futures odds greater than 40-1. Those two teams were the St. Louis Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Casual sports bettors fail to realize that teams with losing records can be profitable to bet on. Take, for example, the Detroit Lions

of last year. The Lions finished with a record of 6-10 yet was the most profitable team to bet on against the spread. Detroit finished the season with a 12-4 record beating out the Atlanta Falcons for the best ATS record. The biggest reason for the Lions ATS record was the fact that odds-makers listed them at such large underdog prices. Sharp bettors knew going into the 2010 season that the lines were much improved and not your dads Detroit Lions. The general betting public assumed Detroit was as bad as they typically are year in and year out. This type of scenario plays out each and every year, proving how valuable it is to spot undervalue teams with little national fanfare.

Another example of a team performing far better from an ATS angle was the St. Louis Rams. St. Louis went 10-6 ATS despite having a losing record of 7-9. Once again an under-the-radar team perceived to be inferior proved to be profitable. What do St. Louis and Detroit have in common from a personnel standpoint?

A good young quarterback, a young defensive front and a hungry upstart coaching staff. In a league deemed copycat, don’t think for a second other struggling teams won’t follow the blueprint of these two NFC teams.

The Atlanta Falcons finished with the second best record both SU and ATS. Atlanta went 13-3 SU and 11-5 ATS last year.

That’s a remarkable feat considering that all attention from odds-makers and the general betting public combined. If you look closer, Atlanta is two to three years ahead of where Detroit Vol um e 13 I ssue 4

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and St. Louis are now. Matt Ryan is an incredible quarterback with a strong set of offensive skill-position players. Atlanta also features a dominant defensive line and a dominant head coach in Mike Smith.

The Dallas Cowboys are on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. The Cowboys are arguably the most popular team in the NFL due to their rich history and big-name players. However, 2010 was nothing better than a debacle for the Cowboys — Dallas lost quarterback Tony Romo and their defense let them down time and time again. Throw in a coaching change, and you have all the makings of a disaster. If it wasn’t for new head coach Jarrett, the Cowboys would have finished worse than 6-10 ATS. As it stands, Dallas going 6-10 insured many casual sports bettors losing seasons based simply on the Cowboys demise.

The Cowboys are an example of lofty expectations not equaling reality.

Since betting on the NFL is nothing more than a numbers game, it’s important to address some key numbers. There are a few different numbers that odds-makers set in the NFL that raise my eyebrow and garner attention. Those numbers are 2.5, 6.5, 7.5, and 9.5.

The number 2.5 is just below the key number of 3. Three is the most valuable number in football, because it represents the value of a field goal. Whenever you see a road team favored by just -2.5 points, buyer beware! Oftentimes, this road favorite is also a high-profile team that garners plenty of public attention. In this case, looking to wager on the home underdog is the sharp way to address this situation.

6.5 is very similar to 2.5, in that it’s just under a key number. In this particular case, 6.5 is just under the touchdown line of 7. The general betting public thinks this is a bargain, simply because their team only needs to win by a touchdown to win their wager.

However, these bettors don’t realize that -7.5 covers their wager more often than -6.5 does. It’s just like going to the grocery store and seeing a price of $9.99. It seems like such a steal compared to the $10 price tag. Odds-makers understand psychology, and they use it to their advantage more often than not.

Lastly, -9.5. The significance of -9.5 is based on all the teaser action that is so popular amongst football bettors. Again, odds-makers know almost everything, and they know what teams each week are going to garner the most betting attention, regardless of it being a straight bet or a teaser. Anyone playing a 6- to 7-point teaser is more likely to take a -9.5 favorite and bring them down to a -2.5 or -3 point favorite. Betting teasers means you have to have to bet at least one other team, and more often than not, public bettors take another -9.5 favorite.

Be wary of following and backing any of these opening numbers I spoke about. These numbers aren’t foolproof, but they are tricks of the trade I’ve learned over the 14 years I’ve been betting on football and sports in general. Understanding why odds-makers bring out the specific numbers they do is just part of the evolution process of becoming a sharper bettor.

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Another trick to use is strength of schedule, which is one of the most important factors to consider when assessing what type of season a team will have. Regardless of how good a team is, playing a 16-game schedule is simply grueling. The easier one’s division is and the easier the overall schedule is makes for a huge advantage for teams. For this upcoming season, the Carolina Panthers face the toughest schedule in the NFL. This fact just proves that life simply isn’t fair. Carolina finished with the worst record in the NFL last year, and now they face a daunting schedule where their opponents won 28 more games than they lost, for a winning percentage of .555 percent. On the other end of the spectrum are the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals were also one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, but this upcoming season they face the easiest schedule on paper. The Cardinals opposition this year has a winning percentage of just .441 percent, a combined 30 games under .500 percent. While both teams aren’t expected to make a postseason run this year, it’s easy to see why the Arizona Cardinals are 75-1 to win the NFL Championship while the Panthers face the longest odds of any NFL team at 100-1.

Of the six teams facing odds of less than 15-1 to win the Super Bowl, the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers have the easiest schedules. The Ravens have the second easiest schedule in the NFL this season, with their opponents winning percentage at just .457 percent, a combined 22 games under .500 percent. Pittsburgh Steelers’ opposition are a combined 14 games under .500 percent for a winning percentage of .473 percent. While the Steelers and Ravens’ opponents are a combined 36 games under .500 percent, the other four teams with odds less than 15-1 to win the Super Bowl face a far tougher road to the Super Bowl. The strength of schedules for the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers and New York Jets combine for a winning percentage of 26 games over .500 percent. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand just how powerful an advantage the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers have over their competition this year. If you are looking for anyone besides yourself rooting for the end of the lockout, look no further than to Baltimore and Pittsburgh!

There isn’t anything quite like the NFL. The NFL has the rare ability to be a standalone day and appeal to everyone in your family. The fact that it can be a family day while captivating you as a sports bettor is what makes the NFL so intriguing.

The excitement and thrill of making money while sitting in the confines of your home is hard to beat. As with anything, a little bit of effort researching your craft can go a long way toward success. Adding in a little bit of discipline and a dose of humility will ensure a healthy bankroll for the entire NFL season, regardless of how short the season may be. Remember, it’s still just a game, and there will always be another one tomorrow.

Mike Hook is a professional golfer turned professional bettor. Called “Hookapedia” for deep handicapping analysis, Hook has already won +84.45 units for his client in 2011. Mike Hook is one of the most respected handicappers on the entire Pregame Pro roster found at www.Pregame. com, where he is also the co-host of the “Today in Sports Betting” podcast.

Craps Q & A FOR ADVANCED PLAY

BY F RA N K S C OB LE T E

Question: Just as a refresher, please explain the SRR and how it relates to dice control.

Answer: In a random game of craps, the 7 comes up six times for every 36 rolls or once every six rolls. Naturally that is a long-range average. In short-run play, the SRR can be all over the board, but over time, the SRR will begin to give you a good idea of what kind of edge you have over the house. So, again, the SRR is one 7 for every six rolls, or 1:6. If a shooter can start to reduce the appearance of the 7 to 1:6.3 or better, he can get an edge at the game. The better the SRR, the higher the player’s edge will be over the game.

Players can also have “negative” SRRs of 1:5.8 or lower. Of course, to establish your SRR and to have any confidence in it, you must do at least several thousand throws of the dice.

Q: You say “theory,” but isn’t it true?

A: It is true, but there are some caveats to using the SRR as the only tool for analyzing your shot. In our classes, we stress that the SRR is an important tool but is not the only or even the best tool to establish your edge. When we speak in general about the SRR, we tend to use the shorthand that all the other numbers are proportionally increased in their appearance as the 7 is decreased.

This is probably not so. Some faces will probably come up more; some will come up less. If you have a high SRR but tend to hit a lot of garbage numbers — such as 2, 3, 11 and 12 — that SRR is not as powerful as you might think. So you have to judge the power of your SRR the best way you can — how you are actually doing in casino play. New players, though, can use the SRR as a confidence booster. As your SRR goes up, you know you are exercising influence over the dice. That is the first and main step in the development of a competent dice controller.

Q: If the garbage numbers come up, should you bet those?

A: No. For most players, betting the high-house-edge bets is an invitation for disaster. The chances of having an edge over those numbers would be remote for most controlled shooters if all you are using is your SRR. You don’t want to try to overcome edges that are often in the double digits merely based on your SRR. You have to be careful using the SRR to allow you to attempt overcoming high-house-edge bets.

Q: Does every controlled shooter’s SRR keep going up?

A: Most do, at least early on, but some don’t. In practice, if you start out like a ball of fire, it is possible your bloated SRR will reduce after you’ve done thousands or tens of thousands of rolls.

On the flip side, if you have a low SRR in the beginning of your 52

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Frank Scoblete’s newest books are “Slots Conquest: How to Beat the Slot Machine” featuring advantage-play slots that give players the edge, “Casino Craps: Shoot to Win” that comes with a DVD showing unedited controlled throws, “Cutting Edge Craps: Advanced Strategies for Serious Players”, and “Beat Blackjack Now: The easiest way to get the edge.” All books are available at bookstores, from Amazon.com or by calling 1-800-944-0406. If you would like a free month’s subscription to Scoblete’s private site and/or a free brochure, email fscobe@optonline.net or call 1-800-944-0406.

practice, it is highly possible that your SRR will increase over time as you get better at controlling the dice. This seems to be a general pattern in the development of a winning SRR, although in groupings of numbers you will see startling discrepancies in SRR results, much like baseball hitters go in and out of good and bad streaks. But over time, the SRR gives you a decent indication that you have developed the dice-control skill. From that point on, you will probably want to work on your on-axis control, which can be judged by the SmartCraps software program.

Q: What is a decent SRR? A: If you get between 1:6.5 and 1:6.8, you are now truly capable of beating the game of craps — if you make the right bets.

Q: What would be the best way to bet a decent SRR? A: When you are shooting, one way is to do a Pass Line bet and two Come bets with Odds or a Pass Line bet with the placing of the 6 and 8. At a 5x odds game (or better), you are probably better off with just Pass Line and Come bets. Do not allow yourself to get into the dementia that can occur at a craps table as you see gamblers betting high-house-edge bets. You are merely seeing a little window when you are at the table, and those hopeless gamblers exist outside that window, too. Those poor saps playing a random game of craps who make the high-house-edge bets are long-term losers, no matter what you are seeing at that moment. They have to be; they are playing a negative-expectation game. For controlled shooters who do not have strong on-axis control, using the Come will get you on numbers we wouldn’t recommend you Place-bet, such as the 5, 9, 4 and 10. Keep in mind that just because a random shooter has hit a bunch of Crazy Crapper bets, that does not mean he will continue to hit those. You are just watching randomness in action when a random roller shoots those bones. He is no different from a slot machine’s RNG (random-number generator), which makes the slots a random game as well.

Q: Should you have win goals and loss limits?

A: If you know you are going to shoot the dice four times in a given session, then your loss limit is already set. Just multiply four times your initial bet spread on one hand. If you are betting $50, then your loss limit is $200. You will have to include what you are betting on random rollers who make it past the 5-Count, but these sums should be small. There are no win goals, only an understanding of your fatigue level. Sometimes after a long roll, fatigue can set in. That adrenaline rush while you were shooting will drain away rather fast after the big roll is over. That might be your win goal right there.

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hoosier park racing & casino: A FIRST-CLASS ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, just 20 minutes north of Indianapolis, has been a premier destination for gaming, racing, dining and entertainment for more than three years. After opening a world-class horse racing facility in 1994, Hoosier Park enhanced the operation with a single-level casino and fully renovated property in 2008.

Since opening the new facility, Hoosier Park has produced more than 32 indoor and outdoor concerts and various shows, including Aretha Franklin, Kansas, Pawn Stars, Beach Boys, Trisha Yearwood, Boyz II Men and Larry King. In their commitment to thrilling their guests, Hoosier Park recently introduced a 5,500-seat outdoor music center featuring the inaugural Coors Light Summer Music Track.

REO Speedwagon kicked off the series of performances in the new outdoor music center, which offers reserved ticket seating and features a wide variety of ticket options. Guests looking for a VIP experience can purchase premium gold-level and private party deck seating complete with personal beverage service.

“At Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, we strive to pull out all of the stops in an effort to thrill our guests,” says Grant Scharton, spokesman for Hoosier Park. “By building an outdoor music center and kicking off our summer line-up with a mega rock group like REO Speedwagon, we are showing the Midwest region that we plan to offer concert-goers a first-class entertainment experience.”

Famed rock band America took the stage on June 17 with their 40th Anniversary Tour. Guests were also treated that night with a special guest appearance by Poco. Shortly after, Rock ’n’ Roll Hall-of-Famer Smokey Robinson stunned the crowd on July 2 with a soul-filled performance.

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HOO S I E R PA R K ’S outdoor concert series is a huge hit.

“We’ve seen a lot of new faces at Hoosier Park since the kick-off (of the concert series),” Scharton says. “The influx of new guests from around the Midwest is a testament to the star-packed concert lineup and all of the extras we have to offer here at Hoosier Park.”

The Coors Light Summer Music Track steams ahead with two big country shows featuring Nashville superstars Gary Allan on July 8 and Josh Turner on Aug. 5. And on Sept. 3, the concert series will culminate in a blowout finale with Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd.

“We will truly be featuring stars under the stars ranging from soul and country to Southern and classic rock music,” Scharton says.

“Our diverse summer concert lineup has something for everyone.”

Tickets prices range from $20 to $64, with special gold-level

features 2,000 of the newest and hottest slot machines and electronic table games, including blackjack, 3-card poker, craps and roulette.

Hoosier Park Racing & Casino was recently ranked as the Indianapolis area’s Most Popular Attraction by the Indianapolis Business Journal and holds multiple awa rds f rom i ndust r y publications for customer service, entertainment, gaming and dining. Most notably, Hoosier Pa rk Racing & Casino was re cog n i ze d as havi ng Indiana’s “loosest slots” by nationally published Casino Player Magazine.

In addition to the casino, racing has been a major attraction at Hoosier Park T H E C A S I N O AT HOO S I E R PA R K since it opened the first pari-mutual horse racing is 54,000 square feet and boasted more than 3 million visits in 2010. facility in Indiana in 1994.

Hoosier Park’s 7/8-mile oval of speed features live standardbred racing in the spring and thoroughbred and quarter horse racing in the fall. Hoosier Park horse racing features the marquee standardbred $200,000 Dan Patch Invitational and the thoroughbred $500,000-added, Grade II Indiana Derby.

The top-of-the-line horse racing facility offers yearround simulcasting. Guests can also participate in simulcast wagering at Hoosier Park’s three offtrack betting facilities in Merrillville, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis.

Hoosier Park Racing & Casino also prides itself in offering a wide variety of food and beverage options, with eight restaurants and lounges. From fine dining in the Homestretch Steakhouse and T H E H O R S E R A C I N G F AC I L I T Y Homestretch Clubhouse to the award-winning at Hoosier Park features Standardbred, Thoroughbred Prime Harvest Buffet and Naked Tchopstix, and Quarter Horse Racing. Hoosier Park has first-class dining everywhere you look. Guests can also relax and rewind at the seating available for an additional charge. Tickets for any Coors Double R Bar or catch the high-speed action of live and simulcast Light Summer Music Track concert can be purchased through racing at the Pegasus Bar. Ticketmaster by calling 800-745-3000 or by visiting Ticketmaster. com. Concert-goers may also purchase directly from the box office located in Shelby’s Gifts at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

Club Centaur members will receive a 20-percent discount on For more information on Hoosier Park tickets purchased at the Hoosier Park Box Office.

Guests looking for even more excitement can visit the 54,000-square-foot, single-level casino, which boasted more than 3 million visits last year alone. Open 24 hours a day, the casino

Racing & Casino, visit 1-800-526-7223 or visit HoosierPark.com

Vol um e 13 I ssue 4

55

Comp Connection FINDING THE FREEBIES

BY JEA N S C OT T, “QUE EN O F C O MPS ”

It has been said that once a teacher, always a teacher. When I retired from the high school English classroom after 25 years, I could not stop teaching. I just switched my subject material and started to expound to anyone who would listen about how to be a smarter gambler. So today, our casino “lesson” is a vocabulary study that will teach you some basics of how to get more from a casino — whether you are winning or losing on your casino game.

COMPS — Short for complimentaries, it means the things the casino gives you without charge just because you are playing in their casino, anything from the drinks that even the pennybetters can order to the penthouse suites for the high rollers.

I call these the casino extras because you get them simply by playing — you don’t have to be losing money to earn them (although sometimes you can get more in that case). Besides the more usual and familiar comps for meals, rooms and shows, Brad and I have been comped for haircuts, massages, airfare, limo rides, parties, cruises and invitational tournaments. In the 28 years I have been going to the casinos, the casinos have flooded me with gifts including logo wear, food baskets, fine bottles of spirits, expensive jewelry and electronics. I have even received so many toys for our grandchildren that they think Santa lives in a casino!

RECOGNITION — You can’t get anything from a casino if they do not know you are playing there. How do you get their attention? One important basic requisite: Join the slot club. Then, every time before you start playing, put your player’s card in the machine or give it to the dealer at a table game. Now the casino knows you are giving them your valuable business — and they have already put it into their budget to reward you.

LITERATURE — No, not Shakespeare, I mean the printed material you will often find at the slot-club desk. Read carefully for specific details on whether the club gives back cash or comps or both. Brochures may tell you exactly how the slot club works, giving a list of the things you can earn as you play and how many points each requires.

INFORMATION — The more you know about a casino’s player reward system, the more you can get out of it. Although some casinos spell out in black and white their criteria for giving out their valuable booty, many do not. However, the clerks at the slot-club desk can often answer many of your questions that the 56

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Jean Scott is the best-selling author of the Frugal Gambling series of books, giving hundreds of thousands details on how to make your money last longer in a casino. More Frugal Gambling covers in depth the subject of casino comps.

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literature does not address. If you take your points in cash, can you still get meal comps? How many points does it take to get a free buffet? A free room?

SLOT HOST — Probably the most important person for you to meet in a casino. This man or woman (she is also called a host, not a hostess) has the job to make you, the customer, feel welcome in a casino and want to come back. Hosts have what is called “the power of the pen,” meaning they can write out comps for players depending on their level of play. After you have been playing for a while — and this time would vary according to the size and luxury level of the casino and the denomination you play — you can ask a change person to have a slot host paged for you. When the host arrives at your machine, you can ask for details about the comp system and find out what freebies you have already earned and/or could earn in the future.

ATTITUDE — But not the current use of the word. You should take into consideration something I call the “honey/vinegar” factor. A pleasant, polite, undemanding tone will yield more comps from a host than a gruff, “I reserve this requisition!”

Moreover, gracious acceptance of anything that is given will pay rich rewards in future gifts. Word your request as a question that will elicit information as well as avoid awkward-for-both-of-you negative answers. “How long do you have to play to qualify for a comp to the coffee shop?” instead of “Can I have a meal comp?”

CONCENTRATION — Putting all your eggs in one basket is good advice here. I have friends who come to visit us in Las Vegas and like to gamble up and down the Strip, trying every casino to find out where they are “lucky.” However, this method will keep you from earning as many comps as you would if you would choose one casino for the majority of your play. All casinos have tiered comp levels, with a minimum of play required for the comp system to kick in. I suggest you play in one casino until you reach this basic activation level for meal comps. In addition, if you want to start earning free room comps, you will need to continue to play at this casino until you reach this higher comp level. Only then would you want to pick up another casino and start working your way up their comp ladder. I recommend you sightsee all over town but focus your play in one casino to maximize your comps.

FREE — My favorite casino vocabulary word. Learn to use the comp system, and free will become your favorite word, too.

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BOK HOMA CASINO, HEIDELBERG, MISS.

BO K H O M A C A S I N O is the latest addition to the Choctaw Indian’s casino properties.

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI), developers of Pearl River Resort, are proud of the swift successes that have been made by the newest addition, Bok Homa Casino in Heidelberg, Miss. The MBCI recently announced that profits generated at Bok Homa Casino since its grand opening in December 2010 have already exceeded the $18 million construction loan used to build the property.

The announcement is the latest in a series of successes for the tribe under the leadership of Miko Beasley Denson. A multi-pronged financial strategy incorporating extensive market research, strategic deployment of existing capital and cost reduction measures have put the MBCI and Pearl River Resort on solid financial ground despite continued challenging economic conditions.

Miko Denson and Pearl River Resort management have produced significant results at Bok Homa Casino in just six months of operation.

The 27,000-square-foot venue has far exceeded projections with higher-than-predicted crowds frequenting the property since its opening festivities, which included an appearance by famed Las Vegas icon Wayne Newton.

“Before Bok Homa Casino was built, we knew it would be a great addition for our tribe,” Denson says. “Despite the state of the U.S. economy and the opposition we had to overcome, we were confident going in because we had done our research. What we didn’t know was just how successful it would be. As a steward of the tribe’s future, it’s imperative, especially in today’s economic climate, to make smart and calculated business decisions backed by solid data.”

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T R I BE L E A DE R M I KO DE N S O N was proud to speak at the Grand Opening.

In addition to Bok Homa, the MBCI has experienced positive gains with the re-imagining of the Golden Moon Casino. Opened in January, the Arena at Golden Moon has quickly become one of the state’s premier venues for live music and entertainment with top acts like Tim McGraw, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Diana Ross, Merle Haggard and Alan Jackson.

Bok Homa has taken a huge role in the revitalization of Pearl River Resorts. Despite statewide gaming numbers decreasing approximately 3 percent in the first quarter of 2011, Bok Homa has resulted in positive growth for the tribe. It is inspirational to see properties such as Bok Homa hit the ground running, proving to the surrounding communities and the gaming industry that gaming is very much alive and isn’t going anywhere despite the economic concerns of our country.

For more information on Bok Homa Casino, call 1-866-44-PEARL or visit BokHomaCasino.com

Bobby Jones once said the tournament golf is played on a 5 ½ inch field……the space between your ears.

This month we are going to focus on the mental side of the game of golf. The brain is a powerful mechanism and it is amazing what you are able to achieve through positive thinking.

In this article I am going to talk about how to mentally prepare for a round the night/ morning prior, during, and most importantly after the round itself.

Colby Wollitz is a PGA-certified teaching pro at The Players Club of Henderson in Kentucky. If you have any questions or would like to set up a lesson, please contact Colby at Golf Plus in Evansville (812-477-7529).

GOLF

Golf: The Game Within the Game

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Let’s first talk about how to prepare your mind prior to the round itself. The night before a big tournament I always play the course hole by hole, shot by shot in my mind. I try to get my mental picture of each shot as detailed as possible…..all the way down to where on the tee box I will tee the ball up. I go through each shot picturing the ball flight I am trying to hit and the landing spot for each individual shot. Once I play the course in my mind I simply shut my brain off from golf and go through my normal nightly routine. One of my biggest mistakes in the past has been to over think a round before I even played it. I have found that by trying to make my evenings and morning as routine as possible I place a lot less stress on the round itself and ultimately play better because of it.

The next step to preparing your mind to play is arriving at the course with sufficient time to get ready to play.

Be sure to leave yourself enough time to hit a few balls on the range (or at least take several swings to loosen up) and most importantly hit a few putts to get a feel for the speed of the greens. Once you have hit 10-20 balls on the range (enough to feel loose) finish your warm-up by playing holes on the range. I always like to play the first three holes and the last three holes in order. So, if the first hole is a 400 yard par 4, tee up your driver, go through your pre-shot routine, and hit your driver to a specific target on the range. Next, hit whatever club you expect to need for your second shot. Again, go through your pre-shot routine and be sure to pick a specific target. Go through the same process for the remaining holes. This routine will help get your brain into a mode of playing golf instead of simply hitting balls.

Once one the course, your main goal should be to stay in the moment! Let me repeat, we want to make the moment that we are in last as long as possible! Jim Fannin, one of the best mental coaches I have met, teaches the following mantra: “I have no future. I have

no past. My goal is to make the present last.” I truly believe in the mantra and use it every day that I step onto the course. In fact, this one statement was the biggest reason I was able to advance through the first stage of U.S. Open Qualifying this year. It especially becomes unbelievable difficult to stay in the moment when you are having either a really good round or a really bad round, which is why most golfers tend to shoot around their handicap regardless of how well or how poorly they play.

The final on course though that you should have is: where is my next target? After each shot, no matter how good or how bad, your focus always should be on the next shot. In fact, I believe that the most important shot in golf is your next shot. By keeping your mind focused in the present tense and on the target you will find that you will worry less about poor shots and also not get overly excited about great shots. Don’t get me wrong, if you hit a great shot, I want you to be pleased with it and show some excitement. After all, golf is supposed to be fun. The trick is that you can’t let that excitement effect what you are going to do next. I have no future. I have no past. My goal is to make the present last.

Last, but certainly not least, is post round analysis.

This is the part of mental performance that usually gets overlooked, even though it is possible the most important. After your round, I would like you to go through your round and analyze your performance both physically and mentally. First, go through each hole and figure out if there was a particular club, shot type, or shot selection that you struggled with that day. This will give you a good idea of what you need to work on with your golf game. Next, go through your round and see if you can remember what your emotional levels were throughout the round. Were there any points that you felt nervous? Stressed? Discouraged?

Mad? Excited? Also, how did you react when you felt these emotions? By recognizing where certain emotions happen and why they happen, you will be better prepared for each scenario when it arises in the future. Once you have evaluated your round it is time to put it away and revert your focus to what you are going to do to prepare for the next round.

Remember, golf is supposed to be fun. The more you dwell on bad shots, the more frequently they will occur. Thinking positively, preparing effectively, and learning from your mistakes are three easy ways to improve your scores and ultimately have more fun on the course.

For more free golf tips, visit southerngaming.com/golf

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Southern Slot Spotlight Star Trek Battlestations WMS Gaming

From the design team behind the player favorite, STAR TREK slots comes a whole new take on the Community Gaming experience — Star Trek Battlestations slots! You’ve never seen Big Event bonus gaming like this!

Find Enterprise symbols during base game play to progress the construction of Federation ships that, when finished, increase the power of your fleet for greater potential wins in the bonus rounds. With no more than eight minutes between communal bonus rounds guaranteed, the Big Event bonus comes in two exciting variations: You’ll enter either the Rogue Ship bonus, where credits awarded are multiplied by your entire fleet, or the Battle Bonus, where even minimum bet players get could take their shot at hundreds of dollars!

Complementing the exciting communal slot experience are unique 80-line, dual-reel set base games that offer both a Transporting WILD feature and a Free Spin bonus with three or four WILD Reels. Battlestations is the exciting adventure fans have been waiting for — our biggest STAR TREK adventure yet!

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All four unique player e x p e r ie n c e s s h a r e Alice-themed, randomly activated features: Alice, The Cheshire Cat, The Tea Par t y, The Caterpillar and the Queen’s Card Pick.

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Southern Gaming’s Preferred Hot Spots

Southern Gaming and Destinations Magazine strives to recommend quality establishments located throughout the region to our readers. On this map, you will find an array of our preferred casinos, racetracks, racinos, hotels and restaurants we feel will deliver a quality experience and encourage you to consider them when you travel.

WANT COMPS? If you are a qualified casino player, let us know! We will connect you with our preferred player hosting company, CasinoRatedPlayers.com, who has relationships with casinos around the world. For more information, please e-mail comps@southerngaming.com or call 1-877-582-9478. Also, visit SouthernGaming.com/comps to fill out a Comp Request Form for assistance in setting up your next gaming trip.

1 Gulf Coast Beau Rivage Resort & Casino (Biloxi) 1-888-750-7111

Fallen Oak Golf Course (Biloxi) 1-877-805-4657

Miccosukee Resort & Gaming (Miami)

Nevel Meade Golf Course (Louisville)

Mardi Gras Casino & Racing (Hallandale)

Oriental Wok (Fort Mitchell)

1-877-242-6464

1-877-55-SLOTS

1-800-WIN-2-WIN

Seminole’s (Coconut Creek, Hollywood & Tampa)

Half Shell Oyster House (Gulfport & Biloxi)

Watermark Grille (Naples)

Grand Biloxi Casino Resort Spa

1-228-867-7001

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (Biloxi) 1-877-877-6256

IP Casino Resort Spa 1-888-946-2847

Island View Casino Resort (Gulfport) 1-877-774-VIEW

The Shed BBQ (Ocean Springs) 1-228-875-9590

2 Alabama Riverside Casino (Wetumpka) 1-800-897-7198

The Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail 1-800-949-4444

• Oxmoor Valley Golf Course (Birmingham) • Hampton Cove Golf Course (Huntsville) • Magnolia Grove Golf Course (Mobile) • Capitol Hill Golf Course (Montgomery) Wind Creek Casino & Hotel (Atmore) 1-800-826-9121

3 Arkansas Arkansas Departmet of Parks & Tourism 1-501-682-7777

The Faded Rose Restaurant (Little Rock) 1-501-663-9734

Hot Springs Visitors Bureau 1-888-SPA-CITY

Loca Luna Restaurant (Little Rock) 1-501-663-4666

Oaklawn Park Racing & Gaming (Hot Springs) 1-800-OAKLAWN

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

4 Florida Daytona Beach Kennel Club & Poker Room 1-386-252-6484

Derby Lane Race Track (St. Petersburg) 1-727-812-3339

Shula’s Steak House (Tampa)

1866-2CASINO

1-239-596-1400

5 Georgia The Horseradish Grille (Atlanta) 1-404-255-7277

New York Prime Steakhouse (Atlanta) 1-404-875-4242

Soho Restaurant (Atlanta) 1-770-801-0069

6 Indiana Belterra Casino Resort (Vevay)

1-502-228-9522 1-859-331-0770

Pat’s Steak House (Louisville) 1-502-896-9234

Porcini Italian Restaurant (Louisville) 1-502-894-8686

Seelbach Hotel (Louisville) 1-502-585-3200

Waterfront Restaurant (Covington) 1-859-581-1414

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

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

Casino Aztar (Evansville)

Fair Grounds Race Course (New Orleans)

Grand Victoria Casino & Resort (Rising Sun)

L’Auberge Du Lac Hotel & Casino (Lake Charles)

Hoosier Park Racing & Casino (Anderson)

Paragon Casino Resort (Marksville)

Horseshoe Casino Southern Indiana

Shreveport/ Bossier Visitor’s Bureau

1-888-BELTERRA 1-800-342-5386

1-800-GRAND-11

1-800-526-7223

1-866-676-SHOE

Indiana Live! Casino (Shelbyville) 1-877-386-4463

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

Brown Hotel (Louisville) 1-502-583-1234

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

1-504-944-5515

1-866-580-7444

1-800-946-1946

1-888-45-VISIT

9 Mississippi (Tunica) Gold Strike Casino Resort 1-888-24-KSTAY

Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall 1-800-456-0711

Hollywood Casino Tunica 1-800-871-0711

10 Mississippi

Equus Restaurant (Louisville)

Boka Homa Casino (Sandersville)

1-502-897-9721

1-866-447-3275

Galt House Hotel & Suites (Louisville)

Pearl River Resort (Philadelphia)

1-800-THE-GALT

Golf Courses of Kenton County 1-859-371-3200

Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse (Louisville) 1-502-584-0102

John Phillip’s Restaurant & Bar (Crestview Hills/N. KY) 1-859-344-0444

Keeneland Racecourse (Lexington) 1-800-456-3412

Lassing Pointe Golf Course (Boone County) 1-859-384-2266

1-813-286-4366

1-866-44-PEARL

11 Missouri Ameristar Casino St. Charles 1-800-325-7777

Argosy’s Alton Belle Casino 1-800-336-7568

Casino Queen

1-800-777-0777

Caesars Palace 1-800-HARRAHS

Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant 1-702-364-5300

Golden Nugget

1-800-634-3454

Golden Gate Hotel & Casino

1-800-426-1906 Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 1-800-473-7625 MGM Grand 1-877-880-0880 Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino 1-877-632-7800 Mirage Las Vegas 1-800-627-6667 Palms Hotel 1-866-942-7777 Paris Las Vegas 1-877-796-2096 The Venetian 1-877-283-6423 Wynn Las Vegas 1-888-320-WYNN Wild Wild West Hotel & Casino 1-800-6-STATIONS

13 Nevada (Laughlin)

Lumière Place Casino & Hotels

Aquarius Casino Resort

River City Casino

Golden Nugget Laughlin

1-314-881-7777

1-888-578-7289

12 Nevada (Las Vegas) Aria Resort and Casino 1-866-359-7757

The Bellagio

1-888-987-6667

1-888-662-5824

1-800-950-7700

Harrah’s Laughlin Casino and Hotel 1-800-427-7247

14 Nevada (Reno) Atlantis Casino Resort 1-800-723-6500

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For comps and information on these facilities, visit www.SouthernGaming.com!

Circus Circus Reno Hotel & Casino

Half Shell Restaurant (Memphis)

Eldorado Hotel & Casino

Rendezvous Barbecue (Memphis)

1-901-682-3966

1-800-648-5010 1-800-879-8879

Hyatt Regency Resort Spa & Casino (Lake Tahoe) 1-800-233-1234 Peppermill Resort Spa Casino 1-866-821-9996

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

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

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

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

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

CQ’s Restaurant (Hilton Head) 1-843-671-2779

Golden Bear at Indigo Run (Hilton Head) 1-843-689-2200

Harbour Town Golf Course (Hilton Head) 1-843-363-4485

1-901-523-2746

Tsunami Restaurant (Memphis) 1-901-274-2556

Vanderbilt Legends Club (Brentwood) 1-615-790-1300

Hilton Head National (Hilton Head) 18 West Virginia 1-843-842-5900

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

17 Tennessee Bound’ry (Nashville) 1-615-321-3043

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

Folk’s Folly (Memphis) 1-901-762-8200

Gaylord Springs Golf Links (Nashville) 1-615-458-1730

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races 1-800-795-7001

The Greenbrier (White Sulphur Springs) 1-800-453-4858

Mardi Gras Casino & Resort 1-304-776-1000

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

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

Bahamas Atlantis, Paradise Island

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This column is an excerpt from Hellmuth’s “Texas Hold’em,” which discusses playing “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.

Phil Hellmuth Jr. is an 11-time World Series of Poker Champion leading all poker players in the world. He has two New York Times best-seller 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.

POKER

Poker: How to win a No-Limit Hold’em Tournament

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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 playing 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 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.

Phil Hellmuth, Jr.

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 fatigued 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.

Some will be fighting all day long to play tight enough, and then suddenly revert to their more natural loose style. Some will be avoiding the over-the-top move that they love, but now they lose their discipline and start coming over the top. Some will simply disintegrate under the pressure more often than not, that happens somewhere among the final 18 players.

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!

For more free poker tips, visit southerngaming.com/poker

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