Southern Gaming and Destinations - September 2020 by Gaming and Destinations

CASINO DINING GUIDE PAGE 4 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 VOL. 22 ISSUE 5 GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM $5.00

TOP LAS VEGAS IMPLOSIONS DEMOLITION IN THE DESERT PAGE 10

RACING REALITY THE NEW NORMAL IN THE SPORT OF KINGS PAGE 14 PLUS: TIPS ON BLACKJACK • CRAPS • VIDEO POKER & MORE! Covering Mississippi, Louisiana, Indiana, Florida, Alabama and the entire South!!

LESS TALK MORE ACTION

BELIEVE THE HYPE

TUNICA’S BEST SPORTSBOOK

LETTER

from the Publisher Gaming Media Group

UP FRONT with G. DOUGLAS

Incorporated

PUBLISHER

Gaming Media Group Inc.

Gaming Media Group

PRESIDENT Incorporated

G. Douglas Dreisbach FOUNDING PUBLISHER

Larry Bisig LAYOUT AND DESIGN

What do you miss the most about going to your favorite casino or racetrack? Is it the camaraderie you experience when gambling with other players or friends at a craps or blackjack table? Or maybe spinning the wheels with friends on a bank of your favorites slot machines. Or perhaps going to a show or concert or being pampered in the spa is high on your list. While we can still enjoy many of these things, the experience is different, and we do not see the old ways coming back anytime soon. One thing I really miss is the delicious dining and hospitality that premium casinos offer their guests. Casinos are the best at what they do and when it comes to food, they always seem to be spot on. Traditionally, this issue serves as our Casino Dining Guide featuring our favorite casino restaurants and what makes them special. We look at the chefs, menu items, dining room décor and ambiance and more. With food options at many casinos still being limited due to COVID-19, this year we highlighted a few casinos that have been longtime supporters of Gaming and Destinations. On page 4, we are excited to highlight Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, IP Casino Resort & Spa and Gold Strike Casino Resort, all offering exquisite dining experiences for their guests. While we are grateful for their support, we honestly believe that each possess the characteristics to rival any premium restaurant in the country. Be sure to check them out on your next visit to Biloxi or Tunica.

Hill Harcourt CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

Linda Boyd Mark Coomes Eric Floyd Phil Hellmuth, Jr. Harold Roth Frank Scoblete GAMING AND DESTINATIONS

136 St. Matthews Ave. #300 Louisville, KY 40207 (502) 212-5177 e-mail: editor@gaminganddestinations.com The goal of this publication is to help drive awareness of the ever-growing popularity of the gaming industry

With everything going on in the world today, we thought it might also be relevant to re-publish a ‘throwback’ article highlighting some of the famous casino implosions in Las Vegas over the years. What goes up must come down and some of these implosions are proof of that. When the destruction date is set the planning begins for watch parties, fireworks, and other ways to watch, hopefully from a safe distance of course. On page 10 you will find some of the most memorable implosions in Sin City history. Most have videos associated with them and can be found by ‘Googling’ the date and casino name. Do yourself a favor and watch a few of them!

and to assist gamers in enjoying their

We also hope you enjoy the great gaming tips and strategies in this issue. By staying fresh on the best strategies, you should win more and lose less. If you can follow a few simple rules and remember some key strategies, you will be a better gamer and hopefully end up ahead in the long run.

Lastly, we want to thank you for your support of Gaming and Destinations. With COVID restrictions at many casinos, we are currently not offering our printed coupons for The Comps Club as part of the subscription until further notice. However, we still need your support. For a limited time, we are offering s special subscription offer for Buy one subscription for $20, get one for a friend for FREE! To sign up, visit GamingandDestinations.com/subscribe or give us a call at 1-502-212-5177 and we will process your subscription over the phone.

Kentucky.

Thanks again and as always, if you can’t be good…be lucky!

gaming experience to the fullest.

Gaming and Destinations is published

for those who seek the best in gaming

and in life, and is produced bimonthly by Gaming Media Group Inc. of Louisville, Kentucky. Copyright

2019 by Gaming Media Group Inc.

is printed by LSC Communications., Inc. of Shepherdsville, Kentucky.

Postage is paid in Lebanon Junction, Opinions of columnists are those of the authors and do not necessarily

reflect the views of the publisher, nor

does Gaming and Destinations assume liability for claims of advertisers. POSTMASTER:

Send address changes

to Gaming and Destinations, 136 St. Matthews Ave. #300 Louisville, KY 40207

On the cover: Saratoga’s Travers

G. Douglas Dreisbach Publisher & President

Stakes winner Tiz the Law jockey

Manuel Franco wears a mask for the winning picture. Photo courtesy of Horsephotos.com

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IN THIS ISSUE ON THE COVER

Casino Cuisine: A look at some of our favorite casino restaurants and the chefs behind the magic.

ARTICLES & EDITORIAL

10 Las Vegas Implosions:

HIGHLIGHTS & HOT SPOTS:

18 Horseracing:

17 Horse of the Issue:

Take what they give you

19 Texas Hold ‘em:

Online opportunities and strategy

20 Craps:

What goes up must come down. Check out our top implosions of Sin City!

The set-up of the game.

22 Casino Directory: Our preferred properties and attractions.

24 Sports Wagering:

Find the future odds on major sporting events.

Who’s the bad guy?

The new normal in the Sport of Kings.

2020 Casino

Sir Barton – A racing legend remembered.

21 Player Perception:

14 Racing Reality:

WINNING TIPS AND STRATEGIES

DINING GUIDE

uide G g n Dini 2020

C A S I N O

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Find us on Facebook

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

de i u G ng i n i D 2020

C A S I N O

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CASINO CUISINE: EXECUTING EXCELLENCE The casino industry has embraced the expectation of excellence in everything. Whether guests are coming to gamble, see a concert or enjoy a great meal, casinos must be ready to over deliver on excellence at every opportunity. When it comes to over delivering on excellence, casino culinary teams go far and above to ensure their guests are satisfied. Whether it is regularly rotating their menus, offering daily specials or

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altering entrees to better fit a guestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desires, catering to individual preferences can leave a lasting impression that will usually warrant return visits to the restaurant, and more importantly, the casino. We are excited to highlight a few of our favorite restaurants and the chefs that always seem to go the extra mile to make their guests happy and the dining room full. We hope you enjoy the overviews and get a chance to stop by for an exquisite meal on your next casino visit.

BR Prime at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino (Biloxi, Mississippi)

2020 Casino

DINING GUIDE

BEAU RIVAGE RESORT & CASINO BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI BEAURIVAGE.COM 1-888-567-6667 CHEF KRISTIAN WADE Dining Outlets: BR Prime, Stalla, Jia, BetMGM Book Bar & Grill, The Buffet, Terrace Café, The Roasted Bean, Snacks, Black Clover Lounge, Pool Café If you are gaming enthusiast, you likely know about beau Rivage Resort & Casino where every day is an escape from reality from the moment you step into the front lobby atrium graced with natural light, fresh flowers and exotic plants throughout. With every visit you get the best of the best from great gaming and amenities to décor and dining, and guests have numerous casual and fine dining outlets to choose from including one of our favorites, BR Prime. Offering one of the most unique menus of any steakhouse you will find, guests regularly leave full filled with a perfect dining experience. “Our menus change seasonally, based upon what is available to us in the market.” Commented Executive Chef, Kristian Wade. “Food purveyors are consistently providing new ingredients, which really helps spark the creative process.” Popular appetizers include Tuna Tartare, Oysters, Shrimp Cocktail and Caviar service. There is also a ‘Warm Starters’ appetizer menu that includes Day Boat Diver Scallops, Blue Crab Cakes, Escargot and more. When it comes to entrees, BR Prime is loaded with options from the land and the sea. One of the most popular items is the Braised Beef Short Rib Wellington where the ribs are braised for seven hours then stuffed with foie gras and sautéed mushrooms and wrapped in prosciutto and puff pastry. It is one of the most popular items on the menu. Also unique to BR Prime is the 28-day dry aged Kansas City Strip or the Bone-in Rib Eye. Beau Rivage Butcher Curmis Broome dry ages all the beef in-house to ensure the quality is second-to-none. Other popular entrees include the Delmonico, Filet Mignon and the Veal and Lamb Chops. Seafood selections include Chilean Sea Bass, Faroe Islands Salmon and King Crab. When it comes to wine selection, there are very few restaurants that can compete with this 5,000-bottle collection. Guest favorites are Plumpjack, Caymus, Opus One, Orin Swift wines and Chef Wade’s personal favorite, Williams Selyem’s Pinot Noir. Delivering a perfect dining experience is a priority for Chef Wade and the entire staff at BR Prime. “A chef has to invoke excitement into the staff’s daily routine.” Wade comments. “They have to be part of the creative process in all regards. If that happens, then we can deliver on our number one goal, which is a great guest experience. We strive to do more than what is expected of us and provide WOW moments for our guest.” In addition to their regular safety and cleanliness protocols, BR Prime has also implemented more distancing between tables and guests as well as other recommended CDC Guidelines and the company wide MGM Safety protocol plan that is in effect at all of the MGM-Owned properties.

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2020 Casino

DINING GUIDE

GOLD STRIKE CASINO RESORT TUNICA, MISSISSIPPI GOLDSTRIKE.COM 1-888-245-7829 CHEF ANTHONY CIEPLINSKI Dining Outlets: Chicago Steakhouse, Buffet Americana, BetMGM Book Bar & Grill, Pickle & Jam, The Roasted Bean Whether you are looking for a premium steak, succulent seafood, or a bountiful buffet, look no further than Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi where Chef Anthony Cieplinski is making strides in the culinary space. Bringing thirty years of experience with him, he has played an integral role in delivering premium dining experiences to guests for eight years at the MGM Resorts-owned property. The property is home to several great dining options including Buffet Americana, BetMGM Book Bar & Grill and Pickle & Jam. But, if you are looking for a one-of-akind premium dining experience, look no further than Chicago Steakhouse located just steps off the casino floor. Here you will find some traditional steak cuts as well as more obscure selections, but rest assured, everything on the menu is fantastic. For appetizers, you cannot go wrong with the likes of the Crustacean Cocktail, Crab Gratin or a Scallop and Fried Shrimp Platter. One of the most popular Lobster Tempura. “It has a really nice display with the meat pulled out of the shell, so the shell is on display.” Commented Chef Cieplinski. “The dish is deep fried lobster in tempura batter, complimented with a soy ginger sauce – our guests love it!” When it comes to steaks and chops, all of your favorites including the Filet, New York Strip and Double Bone Pork Chop are offered, but also be sure to explore some of the ‘Chicago Specialties” that include Wagyu Short Ribs and Lobster Ravioli. As the name of the restaurant states, this is a steakhouse and you can’t go wrong with any offered on the menu, but if you are feeling more of a seafood mood, they can deliver on that craving as well. “All of our steaks are fantastic, our Prime New York Strip almost melts in your mouth, but the Sea Bass is just as good with components that tie in well together.” He Adds. “It is served with orange poached fingerling potatoes, candied shallot port sauce, an orange beurre monte and fried shiitake mushrooms.” In a fine dining restaurant, you must use upscale ingredients and have outstanding service, so guests feel as though they are being catered to every moment they are there. “Our menu really signifies Chicago Steakhouse, a local restaurant that incorporates favorites from the area with an exceptionally fine dining aspect.” He commented. “Our staff is great and have all been here for about 20 years and play a crucial role in providing an exceptional experience in the steakhouse. Most of our guests and servers know each other well.” He added that when guests come in for anniversaries, birthdays or other special occasions, the team goes above and beyond. Instead of using information from our reservations system, the servers already know and have their favorite bottle of wine waiting on the table. All in all, you will find nothing but a premium gaming experience when you visit Gold Strike but be sure to take those extra few steps and treat yourself to Chicago Steakhouse on your next Tunica visit.

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

2020 Casino

DINING GUIDE

IP CASINO RESORT SPA BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI IPBILOXI.COM 1-888-946-2847 CHEF MATTHEW KALLINIKOS Dining Outlets: thirty-two Steak & Seafood, 850 Bayview Café, Sports Bar by Fanduel, Quench, Infusion Coffee Shop Chef Kallinikos has dedicated nine of his twenty-six-year culinary career to the thirtytwo Steak & Seafood located high above the beaches of and Back bay of Biloxi at IP Casino. The restaurant is located on the thirty second floor of the property offering incredible views of the coastal features with floor to ceiling windows throughout the dining room and lounge area. “We are a AAA Four Diamond restaurant that offers beautiful views of both the Gulf and Bay, while serving delicious steak and seafood dishes.” Commented Chef Kallinikos. Our goal is to ensure they have a wonderful experience, every time they visit.” A couple of popular menu items are the Pan Roasted Sea Bass with Risi e Bisi, Sauce Maltaise, warm Pancetta, shaved Spring Onion, Fennel and Pea Greens and the Pork Belly sourced from the Home Place Pastures Pork Belly® and served with creamy Masa, roasted Poblano, Pickled Red Onion, Micro Cilantro, Roasted Pineapple, Queso Fresco and Toasted Pepitas. When it comes to providing variety and change on the menu, Chef Matthew takes it seriously and follows a process for an item to make the final cut for the menu. “We change the menu at least twice a year.” He said. “I watch trends in the industry and in our area before composing a new menu. Once I have written the menu, it goes through a series of tastings with our Executive Chef, Shannon Johnson, and our Food and Beverage Director, Stephen Morgan. Together we work together to fine tune the final product offered in thirty-two.” In addition to the fantastic food, guests will also find a great selection of wines and spirits to choose from. Boasting approximately 750 wines from various countries and regions including Spain, France, Germany and the United States, the on-site sommelier is happy to make recommendations from the expansive and unique selection. The lounge also features a premium selection of whiskey and bourbon as well including Michter’s, Hudson, Weller, and Pappy Van Winkle as well as their own barrel picked selections of Blanton’s and Jefferson’s Reserve. A few popular wine labels include Château de Beaucastel, “Hommages à Jacques Perrin” Châteauneuf du Pape ’05 and the Château Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac ’96. As with all restaurants, thirty-two also had to adhere to safety precautions to ensure their guests and team members were safe. Business has been steady since they re-opened even though they are operating at a fifty percent capacity. They have also removed some furniture to allow more spacing for guests, required staff to be properly equipped by wearing masks, sanitizing the tables and chairs thoroughly after each guest and several other precautions for both front, and back of house staff. 8

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Y O U ’ V E A R R I V E D.

Ameristar Casino offers an exciting & clean place to play along with stunning views of the Mississippi River and bridges. Our restaurants offer delicious southern dishes for both dine-in or take-out, and you can rest in luxury on the banks of the Mississippi at the Ameristar Hotel. In the casino, play the way you want with almost 800 socially distanced slots, and all of your favorite table games. Or, for the ultimate sports betting experience, spend some time at The End Zone, a full-service sportsbook with 17 convenient betting kiosks, a spectacular viewing area with the largest HD screens around, and an expansive sports bar with lots of brews on tap! WE’LL SEE YOU WHEN YOU GET HERE!

4116 WASHINGTON ST VICKSBURG, MS 39180 | AMERISTAR.COM Must be at least 21. Gambling Problem? Call 1-888-777-9696. ©2020 Penn National Gaming, Inc. All rights reserved. G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

New Frontier - D-Day: November 13, 2007

TOP LAS VEGAS IMPLOSIONS DEMOLITION IN THE DESERT by

MARK COOMES

In this article, we highlight some of the

15-story casino collapse in less time than

history. Originally published in 2007, we

that’s a party.

most memorable implosions in Las Vegas felt this was a timeless feature that really never gets old. We hope you enjoy it! “What goes up, must come down” is

the most mundane law in the physical

universe, a reality as unremarkable as the sight of a ripe apple falling from a tree.

Leave it to Las Vegas to turn gravity into glitz – and put Wayne Newton and Isaac Newton on the same marquee. This is

what happens when physics and civics

collide: 20,000 people turn out to watch a 10

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it takes to play a hand of blackjack. Now In Sin City, the greatest transgression is not debauchery, drunkenness or losing Junior’s college fund to a one-armed

bandit. It is missing the opportunity

to turn an event into a spectacle – and

nothing is more spectacular than watching

a House of Cards fall like a house of cards. Vegas has seen an explosion of implosions in recent years. But with two exceptions,

every end was a new beginning. A bigger, badder, flashier playpen rose like a

phoenix to take its place. The Dunes was reborn as The Bellagio.

The Hacienda became Mandalay Bay. The New Frontier, razed last fall, will beget a yet-to-be-named super resort in 2011 – at a cost of $8 billion. Bugsy Siegel, the mobster who practically invented

Las Vegas, spent $7.994 billion less to

open The Flamingo in 1946. You have to wonder which would amaze him more:

How much construction prices have risen, or how fast these casinos can fall?

It’s called “controlled demolition,” and

it takes about five seconds to collapse a 16-story edifice like the New Frontier. Explosive charges are strategically

placed in a building’s infrastructure and

detonated in quick succession. Concrete

shatters; steel beams splinter. The building is dropped in its own tracks. It takes

more than five seconds for every chunk

and pebble to fall, of course, but the end

is swift and inevitable. Sir Isaac Newton

would delight in how deftly the demolition experts apply the gravitational laws he

discovered five centuries ago. Once those

first few charges explode, there is nowhere to go but down.

Let’s take a tour of the destruction starting with the most recent.

labor strikes in U.S. history – a six-year, four-month ordeal that spanned the deaths-by-implosion of four major resorts, including The Dunes and The Sands.

STARDUST RESORT & CASINO D-DAY: MARCH 13, 2007 When The Stardust opened in 1958, it

DESERT INN

boasted the biggest hotel, the biggest

D-DAY: OC TOBER 23, 2001

in Nevada. It also had a penchant for

anybody wanted to play the Desert Inn’s

management team included a former

list of marquee names includes Cher,

with 14 convictions for everything from

Manilow, Don Rickles, Bob Newhart,

was fined $3 million for skimming. New,

Hughes liked “The D.I.” so much that

updated the resort’s iconic sign and added

demolished it. The decision puzzled many

later, the tower came down in a cloud of

The D.I. was in good shape, fiscally

being the newest high-rise ever to meet

Las Vegas, is hardly an eyesore, but the

casino and the biggest swimming pool

For nearly 50 years, everybody who was

getting into big trouble. In 1961, its

famous “crystal showroom.” A very partial

crony of Al Capone and a career criminal

Sinatra, Liberace, Tina Turner, Barry

assault to tax evasion. In ’84, the Stardust

Rich Little and Roseanne Barr. Howard

squeaky-clean owners took over in ’85,

he bought it. So did Steve Wynn, who

a 32-story tower in 1991. Fifteen years

locals. Unlike other old-school casinos,

dust, gaining the dubious distinction of

and physically. The new palace, Wynn

such a fate.

BOARDWALK HOTEL AND CASINO

Desert Inn was arguably Sin City’s most

cinematic resort. It was the backdrop for the original “Ocean’s Eleven,” the TV

series “Vega$” and the blockbuster action flick “Rush Hour 2.”

NE W FRONTIER

D-DAY: MAY 9, 2006

D-DAY: NOVEMBER 13, 2007

Small and unremarkable, save for the

EL R ANCHO

Boardwalk was a prize property for three

The El Rancho’s history is confusing and

The New Frontier is most famous for its “firsts” and “lasts.” In 1956, it played host to Elvis Presley’s Vegas debut. In 1970, it staged the final performance of Diana Ross and The Supremes. It also launched the careers of Siegfried & Roy. Not bad for a place that opened in 1942 as a little nightclub called Pair-O-Dice. Talk about a winning roll. The New Frontier even had the chops to survive one of the longest

wooden roller coaster outside, the

reasons: Location, location, location.

Lodged between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo – and across the Strip from the

Paris, Aladdin and MGM Grand – the

Boardwalk was begging to be razed and resurrected. If for no other reason than

to get rid of it’s famously awful, 24-hour Surf Buffet.

D-DAY: OC TOBER 3, 2000 mercifully brief. Born as the Thunderbird in 1948, it was renamed in 1982 after the first hotel ever erected on the Strip, El

Rancho Vegas. The original resort burned down in 1960 in a blaze that began as

Betty Grable was doing a late show on

the main stage. That perch was previously occupied by legendary stripper Candy

Barr, who was carted off by the FBI after G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

the U.S. Supreme Court upheld her

THE HACIENDA

new El Rancho went kaput in 1992.

D-DAY: DEC. 31, 1996 / JAN. 1, 1997

Texas marijuana conviction in 1959. The Eight years later, it was imploded by the

owners of a high-rise condo project next

door – simply to provide their residents a nicer view.

THE AL ADDIN D-DAY: APRIL 27, 1998 The Aladdin opened in 1966 by ditching its original Olde English motif and

bringing an air of Arabia to the Nevada desert instead. In a grand gesture of Bedouin bling, owner Milton Prell

spent $750,000 on a bulb-encrusted

The Hacienda’s last gasp was a New Year’s Eve party that truly brought down the house. A few hours after Dick Clark dropped the ball in Times Square, a demolition crew brought down the resort that in the 1950s was a virtual “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign for West Coast tourists. Standing all alone on the south end of the Strip, The Hacienda was first place seen by vacationers driving in from California. It was not, however, a hotspot for stars. Mass marketing was The Hacienda’s claim to fame. Owner Doc Bayley formed his own airline to fly in gamblers from around the world. He catered to low-rollers, too, with inexpensive junkets for retirees from the Midwest. The low-budget ethos seemingly stuck with The Hacienda to the bitter end. The building didn’t collapse into its own footprint, as a good implosion should, but toppled into the parking lot instead. An old-fashioned wrecking crew had to complete the demolition.

version of Aladdin’s lamp that stood 15 stories high. The Aladdin hosted the

nuptials of Elvis and Priscilla Presley

in 1967, a windfall for Neil Diamond

(who earned $750,000 for playing only two shows) in ’76 and a brief foray into casino ownership for Wayne Newton (who bought and sold between ’80

and’82). The shine faded from Aladdin’s lamp in the early 1990s. The place was

demolished in ’97 but reopened in 2000. Dogged by a culinary workers strike, the new Aladdin struggled for three

years and was then sold to the Planet Hollywood folks.

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THE SANDS D-DAY: NOVEMBER 26, 1996 At its peak in the Eisenhower Era, no place on the Strip was as hip as The Sands. The Rat Pack was born there. Judy Garland, Lena Horne and Bobby Darrin performed there. But contrary

to popular belief, the original “Ocean’s Eleven” was not filmed there. The Sands reached the pinnacle of cool in 1960, when Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford staged a show in the Copa Room that ran for three weeks. Sinatra, Davis, Nat King Cole and Count Basie all recorded live records at The Sands. Even in the early ‘90s, when The Sands was being eclipsed by the new megaresorts, Diana Ross and Liza Minnelli still considered it a privilege to play the legendary Copa. The fond memories live on. Collectors pay up to $30 for a single $1 chip from The Sands. Rarer chips can fetch more than $1,000.

THE L ANDMARK D-DAY: NOVEMBER 7, 1995 That’s right: They razed paradise and put up a parking lot. Then again, in light of its troubled past, The Landmark was probably more pit than paradise anyway. The hotel’s original developer went broke in 1962, and its 31-story tower – the biggest skyscraper in Nevada at the time – stood unfinished and unoccupied for seven years. Eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes finally opened the joint in 1969 but lost interest in the project within a year. The Landmark was beset by a near-Biblical string of plagues starting in 1977, when a carbon monoxide leak killed one guest and injured 138 others. A massive power outage was followed by a flooded basement. The Landmark closed in 1990 but sat empty for another three years. One hundred pounds of explosives finally felled the tower in 17 seconds flat.

Tiz the Law wins the Travers Stakes at Saratoga PHOTOS BY HORSEPHOTOS.COM

RACING REALITY:

THE NEW NORMAL IN THE SPORT OF KINGS by

HAROLD ROTH

2020 started out innocently enough.

and Kentucky leading up to the Kentucky

were happening, but we just couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

Foals were celebrating their universal

Derby and the Triple Crown.

identify what they were or how they might

birthdays as we ushered in another new year. The racing season was getting ready to explode with action and excitement after a well-deserved winter respite. Three year-olds were being prepared and conditioned to flaunt their talents in the series of races scheduled to take place in Florida, California, Arkansas, New York 14

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As the year unfolded, the series of events that were about to consume our every action and turn the sport of kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upside down was just emerging in the distance. By mid-February, we started hearing rumors of some flu-like virus that had emanated from China and was working its way to Europe via Italy. Strange things

affect us. Yes, Italy was hit hard, but why would we think that the United States, a country with the greatest resources and most advanced technological and medical experts, would also become overwhelmed? What is more, there was no way this flu-like virus could have a direct impact on the racing industry. After all, racing

hotels were shuttered. Any kind of group

have to risk the dangers of air travel.

gathering of ten or more people was

The results were that horses readied

prohibited. We were being informed

and positioned for sale may lose their

that this novel virus could be contracted

opportunity.

and easily spread by any and all human contact, particularly by molecules emitted through the air. Face coverings were strongly advised, in addition to social distancing and constant hand washing and sanitizing. Even the most experienced infectious disease specialists were Fans are required to wear face coverings.

is primarily an outdoor sport, and horses probably would not be infected by the

uncertain of the path the virus was taking, and there was no cure or medical remedy on the horizon.

Despite the concern about the virus, racing continued unabated at Gulfstream Park in Florida and Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, albeit without spectators. The virus had made its way to all fifty states but hit New York the hardest. By mid- to late-May, under strong leadership and definitive action by Governor Andrew Cuomo, plus the cooperation of New Yorkers, the transmission and infection

disease.

It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t long before Churchill Downs

rate of the virus had improved. The New

By mid-March this virus â&#x20AC;&#x201C; now known to

announced the rescheduling of the

York Racing Association announced that

Kentucky Derby from its traditional first

it would reopen Belmont Park and run

Saturday in May to the first Saturday

the Belmont Stakes on the 20th of June

in September. This was a sure sign that

-- not only without spectators, but also

the United States population. There was

something serious was afoot.

at a shortened distance of a mile and an

growing concern as more people tested

The corona virus, which has infected

all as the Corona Virus or COVID-19 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; had made its way to Washington State and was beginning to have a visible impact on

positive, hospitals began to fill up, and the death toll rose swiftly. Changes were disrupting our lifestyle, like never before. We saw what was happening in Europe and we were becoming alarmed. Through a sense of precaution, spectator events that involved large gatherings of any kind, including major sports and concerts, were

our lives, is now influencing the racing industry with no clear end in sight. In

eighth. The third leg of the Triple Crown, the test of champions, was now its first leg.

addition to the cancellation of racing, it

Tiz The Law, whose victories in the Holy

is also wreaking havoc on horse sales, as

Bull Stakes and Florida Derby made him

they require interaction with buyers at a

the winter book favorite, was ready to

close proximity. Buyers, many of whom

take on all comers. The 3-year-old colt

come from Europe and Asia, would also

is trained by Barclay Tagg and owned

beginning to cancel their schedules. By the end of March, as the situation became even more precarious and uncertain, racing followed suit as New York and California tracks cancelled their programs altogether. Our lives were being turned completely around by this viral pandemic. Stay-athome orders accompanied the closing of schools, restaurants, movie theaters, and many stores. Las Vegas casinos and

Jockeys are also required to wear face coverings. G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

by Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable, the same connections that brought us popular Funny Cide, who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, only to fall short in the Belmont Stakes. This time around they had a resounding victory in the Belmont and will have another shot at the Triple Crown. This year, the Derby will be run September 5, followed by the Preakness, regularly the second leg, which will now be held October 3. The 2020 Triple Crown -- run out of order and over a period of months, not weeks -- will undoubtedly have an asterisk alongside it. Changes have occurred and are continuing to impact the scheduling to events in the racing industry. The midsummer races, which traditionally take place at Saratoga Race Course in New York highlighted by the Travers Stakes, and at Del Mar Race Track in California featuring the Pacific Classic, are being 16

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

run spectator-free with revised schedules under tight restrictions. Next up are the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes taking place in the fall followed by the Breedersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Cup, which is scheduled to

be run in November at Keeneland Race Course in Kentucky.

No one can predict what the future

will bring, or when this stage of the

pandemic will let up. In the meantime there are things we can do. We can

protect ourselves from the elements

by following the guidelines outlined

by medical experts as mandated by all the participating racetracks. Jockeys,

trainers, owners and all workers involved

in making these events happen are tested regularly, keeping social distance where

possible, and wearing masks. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s keep cheering on our favorites and hoping

everyone in the industry stays safe and

well. This has become the new normal. At least for now.

HORSE OF THE ISSUE:

SIR BARTON by E R I C

F LOY D

Sir Barton’s Lifetime Statistics:

Year Starts Wins Seconds Thirds Earnings Lifetime 31 13 6 5 $116,857 PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA

While he might have skipped off into eternity with the rarefied title of, “Thoroughbred Horse Racing’s First Triple Crown Champion”, Sir Barton also knew what it was like to “travel through the valley”. Beaten a combined fifty-seven lengths in his first four starts, the most famous son of Star Shoot was then curiously purchased in August of 1918 by a retired Canadian navel veteran named Commander J.K.L Ross for $10,000 (that’s approximately $150,000 in today’s money)! Following a sixteenth-place finish in Saratoga’s prestigious Hopeful Stakes, Sir Barton then “shocked the world” by scoring a silver medal at odds of 15-1 in Belmont Park’s famed Futurity Stakes. On New Year’s Day in 1919, Commander J.K.L. Ross passionately resolved to win the forthcoming Kentucky Derby with his barn’s ace; a big bay gelding named Billy Kelly. On paper at least, Billy Kelly’s primary nemesis was a horse named Eternal and since this one-dimensional racer habitually seized command early, Commander J.K.L. Ross and H.G. Bedwell (Sir Barton’s Hall of Fame trainer) resourcefully reached into their bottomless bag of tricks. Hare-footed in his own right, Sir Barton was therefore entered into the “Run for the Roses” with the ulterior motive of luring Eternal into a suicidal speed duel, one which would (in theory) “set up” the late closing Billy Kelly. In accordance with Ross’ and Bedwell’s strategy, Johnny Loftus (Sir Barton’s hardboiled jockey) immediately opened up on his eleven Derby foes once the flag fell, yet it was soon evident that Eternal didn’t much like Churchill Downs’ “muddy going”. Alas, the day’s theoretic breakneck pace never developed. Instead, Sir Barton prevailed by five lengths in wire to wire fashion over Billy Kelly (who still closed gamely for runner-up

honors despite an unfavorable trip). As for Eternal’s fate, well, to the dismay of many punters who had gone “all-in”, the post-time favorite wound up staggering home in tenth position, beaten some thirty lengths.

1930! This was when a New York Times journalist named Bryan Field wrote about (and popularized) the “Triple Crown” that Gallant Fox had procured for Belair Stud President, William Woodward Sr.

Although he was initially tagged a “one hit wonder” who’d been excessively aided by an “off track”, Sir Barton was just getting started. Back in action just four days after leaving Louisville (this time over a lightning “fast” strip), Commander J.K.L. Ross’ crotchety upstart went on to silence his many naysayers by outrunning an accomplished Preakness field (one which included Eternal) by four lengths. Ultimately exiting Pimlico Race Course (the home of the Preakness) as thoroughbred racing’s most popular equine, Sir Barton then won the Withers Stakes ahead of bagging the Belmont Stakes at the expense of two hopelessly overmatched rivals.

Emulating a “busy little bee” behind his Belmont Stakes triumph, Sir Barton subsequently ran nine more times as a three-year old! Ultimately procuring mixed results with regards to penetrating the winners’ enclosure, Commander J.K.L. Ross’ luminary nevertheless “hit the board”. Netting nearly $90k as a three-year old, Sir Barton likewise “out earned” an up and coming juvenile star named Man o’ War over the course of that interval known as 1919.

Now it is important to note how the complexion of Thoroughbred Horse Racing’s Triple Crown Series has changed over the last century. You see presently, there is a two week gap between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, however because the Triple Crown didn’t formally exist in 1919, Sir Barton only had a four day hiatus between those two routes which traditionally highlight the month of May. The fact that Sir Barton also competed in-between his Preakness and Belmont Starts is another incongruity that you would never witness today. So, Sir Barton’s 1919 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont sweep wasn’t initially characterized a “Triple Crown” Championship. The truth is (drum roll), American horse racing’s most regal heading really did not even surface until the year

Sent post-ward a total of twelve times in 1920, Sir Barton conclusively compiled a résumé which featured five blue ribbons and one world record time (1:55 3/5) for 9 ½ furlongs on dirt. These achievements were largely overshadowed by what occurred on Oct. 12th at Kenilworth Park Racetrack in Ontario, Canada. The first horse race to be filmed in its entirety, the inaugural 75k Kenilworth Park Gold Cup Handicap was essentially a “match race” between the era’s top two equines; Sir Barton and Man o’ War. Easily bested by seven lengths, (because his perpetually sore hooves didn’t mix with Kenilworth’s unyielding surface) Sir Barton thereafter managed only one second place finish and two third place finishes in the final three races of his career. Though mostly a disappointment at stud, “Thoroughbred Horse Racing’s First Triple Crown Champion” need not be too concerned; for the legacy he forged on the track is as immovable as well, the “Sport of Kings” itself! G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

PLAYER STRATEGY

HORSERACING: Take What They Give There is not a horseplayer alive who hasn’t dreamed of the “ultimate score.” The one extremely optimistic goal for anyone who invests into the Sport of Kings with any regularity is to have the perfect storm of events blend together for a fleeting moment to form the flawless race. Our vision is a plane of unparallel wisdom and foresight where everything uncannily falls into line just as imagined, thus granting total financial security for a lifetime. On the first Saturday in May in 2009, fate chose a handful of gamblers who ran through the raindrops and indeed caught lightning in a bottle. Twenty-three $2 superfecta tickets were cashed from the Kentucky Derby with the unlikely 50-1 shot Mine That Bird leading the way. Each ticket returned the life changing amount of $557,006.40. These chosen few have crossed over into the Promised Land, they have beaten the game. As for the rest of us left in Purgatory, the grind continues. Such an impossible equine capturing the roses left yours truly and countless other enthusiasts of the turf drowning in a sea of post Derby depression. After I licked my wounds, my focus naturally turned towards the Preakness Stakes and an opportunity at redemption. In the days preceding the second jewel of the Triple Crown, I noticed a great majority of my time had been spent pondering on how I was going to empty the coffers of Pimlico Racetrack. I just did not want to cash a modest ticket on the race, I yearned to imitate the patrons who had won half a million dollars on the Derby. Preakness morning I spent several hours pouring over the Daily Racing Form running lines and mapped out a dozen or so exotic betting strategies within the amount of my bankroll. Undoubtedly, I was swinging for the fences. If any of these number combinations showed up on the tote board, the paramedics had better be heading my way with cardiac paddles in hand. On my drive up to Orlando Jai-Alai Fronton and Race Book to place my Preakness wagers, something was amiss in my psyche. I was confident that I had identified the fastest horse entered in the Preakness but lacked conviction that I could depend on the runners completing the trifectas and superfectas on my proposed betting slips. I 18

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

E R I C VAU G H N F LOY D

finally conceded that aside from my opinion the filly Rachel Alexandra would win the Preakness, I was utterly lost. Upon entering the race book and discovering that my top selection was offering a return of 9/5, I begrudgingly decided to abandon my dreams that on this day I would capture unequivocal wealth. I put a c-note on the chalk’s nose and took a seat. My gambling mentor and good friend Howard Ostrom taught me a very valuable lesson when I first met him. He insisted that even though a person might be a formidable handicapper they may also constantly visit the ATM machine due to the fact that they bet poorly. A facet of this doctrine states that sometimes you have to simply “Take what the racetrack is giving.” In the heat of the moment within the confines of a hectic gaming arena where an infinite amount of emotion is swirling around you, this is often the absolute hardest advice to heed. Satisfaction easily turns to greed when after cashing a $14 dollar winner you notice a patron two windows away signing a tax form and pocketing three dimes. With three minutes to post before the Preakness Stakes, I ran into the men’s room and overheard one patron tell another his thoughts on the highly anticipated race. “I know that filly is going to win this thing man, but the favorite won’t pay anything. I threw her out of my exacta box.” After my elation settled down from the sight of Rachel Alexandra crossing the wire ahead of the Preakness field, my thoughts returned to that gentleman’s comments. He had given away the race and his hard earned cash because he was blinded by unrealistic expectations. Mine That Bird, who was the second place finisher in the Preakness, never had a home on any of my original exotic tickets. Pressing my chase of an outlandish victory would have resulted in disaster. I have not always made wise decisions within the track’s confines but in this very important instance I was indeed a good handicapper and a good bettor. The last thing I want is for my words to tarnish any horseplayer’s fantasy of striking it rich. After all, that is the reason most of us initially entered the game.

Eric Vaughn Floyd is a turf writer for various gaming publications and is a consultant to several nationwide media outlets in regards to the Triple Crown. Excerpts of his gambling memoir “The Backstretch (My First Decade Playing the Game)” can be viewed at LULU.com

“TWENTY-THREE $2 SUPERFECTA TICKETS WERE CASHED FROM THIS YEAR’S KENTUCKY DERBY.”

FOR MORE FREE TIPS, VISIT GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM

PLAYER STRATEGY by

PHIL HELLMUTH, JR.

This is an excerpt from Phil’s book, Bad Beats Phil Hellmuth, Jr. is a 15-time World Series of Poker Champion leading all poker players in the world. His books include Poker Brat, Phil Hellmuth’s Texas Hold’em, Deal me In, Play Poker Like the Pros, Read ‘Em and Weep, Excelling at No Limit Hold ‘em, Positivity: You Are Always I the Right Place at the Right Time and Bad Beats and Lucky Draws. Phil’s books, blog, tips and more can be found at PhilHellmuth. com.

“PAY ATTENTION TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME A PLAYER TAKES TO MAKE A DECISION.”

FOR MORE FREE TIPS, VISIT GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM

POKER: Hold’Em on the Internet Deception and Reading

Ten-Handed Games

Limit Hold’em is a fast-moving game for a fastmoving society and online players seem to move in and out of games more quickly. They often play on their lunch break or when they just have an hour to kill before dinner. In any case, the lineups change quickly so you don’t have a lot of time to figure out what the other players are doing.

I recommend you use the “top ten only” strategy when you play online at a ten-handed table. This strategy is simple, safe, and very effective and should allow you to build up some profits. If I could design a computer program to play my money online, this is the way I would program it. The reason I recommended this slow strategy is the online players in small-stakes poker games play so badly that the “top ten” strategy will be a big winner in the long haul. There is no need to get fancy and take big swings up and down with your money online: the patient route will smooth out the swings and produce the desired wins. Also, make sure you play in games of an appropriate size for your bankroll. If you intend to risk $100 online, make sure you play no higher than $1-$2 limit. This way you will have 50 big bets to play with, and you will give the “top ten” strategy a chance to succeed for you. With 50 big bets, you will have a decent shot at turning $100 into a lot more money over 40 hours of play using my online strategy. However, 50 big bets is still not much money in a poker game as 100 big bets is a much safer amount to start with. Don’t be discouraged if you lose your initial $100 playing the “top ten” strategy. Luck is a big part of poker, and although this strategy is a favorite in any online $1-$2 game, sometimes you can just get unlucky!

To get a good feel, pay close attention to the hands players show at the end of a pot as this will show what type of player they are. If a player has raised a pot and then bet all of the way down to the end and shows 6d-7c, you know that he is a jackal type. If a player hasn’t played a pot in a while, the early evidence suggests he may be a mouse type. Remember, the sword cuts both ways in online poker. The other players won’t know about you except what you let them see. If you are raising a lot of pots, the other players will think that you are a jackal especially if you show some weaker hands. You may show some of your weaker hands at the end of the hand even if you don’t win the pot, in order to convey the illusion you are a jackal. Or you can show your strong hands in order to give people the impression that you are a mouse. I like to show my strong starting hands face-up, to make people think I am a mouse, then I will be able to bluff more pots in the future, because they think I only play big hands. (In lower-limit games, it is hard to bluff someone out on the end!) Even though you can’t read other people’s facial expressions when playing online, there is still plenty of information available about the way they play and you can confuse them with what hands you choose to show. Other things to watch while playing online include the amount of time a player takes to make a decision and the number of other games a player is in. If players are in other games, they are likely to lose concentration, and you may be able to take advantage by playing more aggressively. A good online “tell” is whether or not a player bets his hand right away or stalls by figuring out if a quick bet means a hand or a bluff. A quick bet is usually a sign of weakness, and a slow bet is usually a sign of strength. Everyone in poker is an actor and when people bet slowly they are usually trying to say to you, “I don’t know if I should bet this hand or not. Let me think. I’m pretty weak right now.” At least that’s what they want you to think. By contrast, a quick bet is meant to convey an impression of strength; they’re saying, “I have a huge hand, and I’m going to bet because of this.” You might not want to believe it, though!

Five-Handed Games Hold’em is a very different game when you are playing it at a table where the maximum is five players. You will find that the swings you take in a five-handed game will tend to be much bigger than the swings you take in a ten-handed game. Five-hand-maximum tables don’t exist right now in the “real-world,” probably because the casinos figure they have a limited amount of space and need to use it for full-size tables. Online casinos, of course, face no such limitation. At a five-hand-maximum table, in addition to the top ten strategy, you can now add all small pairs, any A-x, and the “20-rule” (two cards that add up to 20 or more) to the mix of hands to play pre-flop. I’m not saying to play these additional hands all the time. For example, I wouldn’t play 10-J for three bets before the flop. However, you can now call two bets with these types of hands or make it two bets yourself. Because you are playing more than three times as many hands before the flop in a five-handed game, you may also find five-handed tables a lot more fun, and potentially more profitable too! G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

PLAYER STRATEGY

CRAPS: The Set Up of the Game To a new player, craps looks like a very intimidating game. Just look at the layout; it resembles an ancient Egyptian hieroglyph that tells some elaborate sacrificial story. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Craps is a simple game, made even simpler because most of the bets are worthless to the smart player, although ploppies – the unschooled, unthinking masses of craps players – will fall all over themselves to wager on them and regularly watch their chips go to the casino. If you have never played craps before, the next issues of Southern Gaming and Destinations are for you. I’ll explain how the game is played – in short, the who, what, when, where, why and how of it all. Even if you are a seasoned pro, a refresher course could be just what you are looking for. The Dice

A die has six sides, so there are 36 possible combinations of two dice in the game of craps: six sides times six sides = 36 combinations. Each side (or face) of a die will have various numbered pips: 1-pip, 2-pips, 3-pips, 4-pips, 5-pips and 6-pips. Given two dice, the lowest number that can be rolled is a two (1-pip + 1-pip); the highest number is 12 (6-pips + 6-pips). There is only one way to make a 2 and only one way to make a 12. Graph 1.1 shows you the possible combinations that can be made with two dice. As you can see the 7 is the number that comes up the most and is the key number in the game of craps. If you look at a set of casino dice you will also find that the front side and its opposite back side add up to 7. So opposite the 1-pip is the 6-pip; opposite the 2-pip is the 5-pip; opposite the 3-pip is the 4-pip. The Personnel

Craps tables generally have four people working the game, three dealers and a box person. One dealer, called the stickman, stands on the side of the table with the players. He is called the stickman because he has a long stick that he uses to move the dice. He gives the dice to the shooter; takes the dice to the middle of the table between rolls; and announces the payoffs of the winning bets in the middle of the table for the dealers to pay. The other two dealers stand on the opposite side of the table from the stickman, one to his left and one to his right. Each of these dealers is responsible for 20

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

FRANK SCOBLETE

paying off winning bets and taking the losing bets from the players on their side of the table. Between the two dealers is the box person who supervises the game to make sure no bets are mishandled and that buy-ins and payouts are done correctly. The Table

There are different types of craps tables, each with minor differences in their layouts and sometimes in the payoffs of their bets. I am going to give you a generic table. Both the left and right sides of the table are the same in terms of which bets are offered. Going around the outside of the layout is the Pass Line (a good bet); above that is the Don’t Pass (a good bet) with the word bar and the dice showing a 12. The bar means that the 12 is a tie if it appears for Don’t bettors. On some of the older tables you will note a BIG 6/8 bet in the corners. This is a sucker bet. Above the Don’t Pass line is a bet called the Field (a bad bet). The Field combines the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Above the Field is the Come area. The Come bet is a good bet. At the top of the layout are the “Point” numbers, also called the “box numbers” – 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10. These point/ box numbers can be good or bad depending on how they are being used. In the upper corners of the layout are the Don’t Come boxes. The Don’t Come is also a good bet. Okay, now take a look at the center of the table. These are the worst bets at the game of craps, known as “Crazy Crapper” bets, so named by the legendary Captain. They are more commonly called “Proposition Bets.” They stink. Here are the names of these bets: the Hardways (2:2, 3:3, 4:4, 5:5), the 2 (Snake Eyes), the 12 (Boxcars), the 11 (Yo), the 3, and Any Craps. There are also combination bets called the Whirl or the World, the Horn, also a multitude of Hop bets and the dastardly Any Seven. Some tables will have other proposition bets such as the money gobbling Fire Bet. As stated, these bets all stink – they should be called suicide bets for your average craps player. If craps bets are compared to movie genres then the Crazy Crapper bets would be slasher films, cutting your bankroll into bloody chum so take this into consideration in you next playing session. Good luck and in the next issue of Southern Gaming, we will cover the correct way to play the game of craps.

Frank Scoblete is America’s #1 best-selling gaming author. He is holding his “Frank Scoblete’s World Casino Championships” in Las Vegas on August 14, 15 and 16. This event consists of tournaments, classes, parties and an awards banquet! Call 1-800-944-0406 for a free brochure. Frank also has his own Sports Service with his partner Dominator and best-selling author Bill Burton: “Dominator’s Golden Touch Sports Service.” Call 1-866-738-3423 for more information.

Number Ways Combinations to Make 2 one 1:1 3 two 2:1, 1:2 4 three 3:1, 1:3, 2:2 5 four 4:1, 1:4, 3:2, 2:3 6 five 5:1, 1:5, 4:2, 2:4, 3:3 7 six 6:1, 1:6, 5:2, 2:5, 4:3, 3:4 8 five 6:2, 2:6, 5:3, 3:5, 4:4 9 four 6:3, 3:6, 5:4, 4:5 10 three 6:4, 4:6, 5:5 11 two 6:5, 5:6 12 one 6:6

FOR MORE FREE TIPS, VISIT GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM

PLAYER STRATEGY by

LI N DA B OY D

Linda Boyd, a long-time table game player before turning to video poker, writes for “Southern & Midwest Gaming and Destinations”and several other national media outlets. Her book, “The Video Poker Edge”, includes free removable pay schedules and her free strategy cards for the most popular games and can be found on Amazon and other book outlets.

“KNOWING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF A TABLE GAME IS A FAR CRY FROM KNOWING THE STRATEGY.”

FOR MORE FREE TIPS, VISIT GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM

PLAYER PERCEPTION: Who’s the Bad Guy “So, you’re a tough guy, Like it really rough guy, Just can’t get enough guy, Chest always so puffed guy” from the lyrics to smash hit and 2019 Grammy song of the year “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish

so, you are taking a big chance anytime you plop down at a poker table and know nothing about the other players. It may not matter as much if you are playing against the house, like blackjack, but it does in any live game of poker.

Eilish is saying if you must bloviate about being a brawny, lusty guy you’re probably anything but the most rugged guy in town. Older generations would call you a “rough, tough cream puff”. That brings us to the self-proclaimed cool dudes of gambling, felt table game players. Don’t get me wrong, some of them are, especially those highly skilled pros with well-known names; they’re the rock stars of the gaming world. But how about the average Joe? It depends on their game of choice. Are they more worthy of admiration from the gaming community than video poker (VP) players? That, too, depends on their game. Let’s take a look and compare.

Traditional Slots Many gamblers turn their noses up at traditional slot machine options. That is a huge mistake and you could be missing out on the opportunity to win a big or even moderate jackpot with an ER (expected return) of over 100%. That is because casinos offer “must go” jackpots of specific amounts, say $500, and you don’t even have to be playing max bet. Even if it is not a “must go” device there are some games that grow with play, like a progressive royal in VP, and continue with the next player until won. For example, with Buffalo Diamond Edition the amount of bonus games is progressive at each denomination from $0.75 to $400 and the multipliers on the wheel vary from two times to four times the payout. If you see an extraordinary number of games, say 100, on color-coded bonus spins, then it can be an outstanding wager.

Table Games Gamblers may choose a table game, say blackjack (BJ) or Hold’Em but the rules, rake and side bets determine whether it is a smart choice or not. For example, a roulette game that has both a zero and a double zero has a lower expected return (ER) than one with just one zero. So how can you know whether to play or not? Study the Game: Knowing the fundamentals of a table game is a far cry from knowing the strategy. The house will tell you the mechanics and sometimes even more. You, the player, are in charge of card-counting to determine the condition of the remaining deck to intelligently alter the size of your bet. You also must know how many decks are in play, whether there is a continuous shuffling device and whether the dealer hits a soft seventeen. There is more, but my point is you must study the game rules along with the strategy to get the best ER. Just playing BJ and screaming every time you beat the dealer does not make you a bad guy. In addition, most side bets favor the house so do not automatically assume that they’re worthy of the extra money. Know the Players: Benny Binion once said, “Trust everyone, but always cut the cards”. Even

Video Poker During slower times, casinos will offer multiple points for play as well as multiple promotional event entries. Add the ER for slot card points to the game’s ER and see if it exceeds 100%. I never assign a value to contest entries or comp dollars, but both are a bonus. Final Thoughts It is a big mistake to dismiss traditional slot machines as a smart gambling choice, because some have an astounding ER as they approach “must go” amounts. How about video poker? You really are the “bad guy” if your choice is video poker and you find a game with an ER over 100% and know the game’s strategy in spite of the fact that table talk and tells are irrelevant. Sometimes excellent VP plays are due to pay schedule glitches. Skilled poker players are still considered the cool dudes of gambling but the operative word is “skilled”. If not, then they are the self-professed “bad guys” in Eilish’s song and the welcome donkeys for the good players. G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

SOU THERN

CASINO DIRECTORY

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

WEBSITE

PHONE NUMBER

*CC PARTNER

TABLES

MACHINES

KYDerby.com

502-636-4400

BELTERRA CASINO RESORT

belterracasino.com

888-235-8377

•

1,150

FRENCH LICK RESORT

FrenchLick.com

888-936-9360

•

1,000

GOLD STRIKE CASINO RESORT

goldstrike.com

662-357-1111

1,400

HOLLYWOOD CASINO TUNICA

hollywoodcasinotunica.com

662-357-7700

1,079

1,563

1,275

1,224

1,800

KENTUCKY CHURCHILL DOWNS RACETRACK INDIANA

TUNICA •

MID-SOUTH: INCLUDES LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA AMERISTAR CASINO VICKSBURG

ameristar.com/vicksburg

601-638-1000

CYPRESS BAYOU CASINO HOTEL

cypressbayou.com

337-923-7284

MARGARITAVILLE RESORT CASINO

margaritavillebossiercity.com

318-698-7177

PARAGON CASINO RESORT

paragoncasinoresort.com

318-253-1946

PEARL RIVER RESORT

pearlriverresort.com

866-447-3276

2,350

WIND CREEK ATMORE

windcreekatmore.com

866-946-3360

N/A

1,720+

WIND CREEK MONTGOMERY

windcreekmontgomery.com

866-946-3360

N/A

2,200+

WIND CREEK WETUMPKA

windcreekwetumpka.com

866-946-3360

N/A

2,550+

BEAU RIVAGE RESORT & CASINO

beaurivage.com

228-386-7111

1,800

IP CASINO RESORT & SPA

ipbiloxi.com

228-436-3000

•

1,475

SCARLET PEARL CASINO RESORT

scarletpearlcasino.com

888-266-5772

•

950

SILVER SLIPPER CASINO HOTEL

silverslipper-ms.com

228-469-2777

•

965

CALDER CASINO & RACE COURSE

caldercasino.com

305-625-1311

•

RACING

1,200

SEMINOLE HARD ROCK & CASINO TAMPA

seminolehardrocktampa.com

813-627-7625

171

5,000

SEMINOLE HARD ROCK & CASINO HOLLY

seminolehardrockhollywood.com

866-502-7529

130

2,200

lumiereplace.com

877-450-7711

1,600

caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee

828-497-7777

100

3,300

• •

GULF COAST

FLORIDA

MISSOURI LUMIERE PLACE CASINO AND HOTELS NORTH CAROLINA HARRAH’S CHEROKEE CASINO RESORT

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

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

# OF ROOMS

ENT. VENUE

GOLF SPORTSBOOK SPA

POOL

LIVE & SIMULCAST RACING

608

•

• •

•

OUTDOOR

757

•

BOTH

1,131

•

INDOOR

494

•

INDOOR

150

•

102

•

395

•

531

•

1,071

•

236

•

OUTDOOR •

OUTDOOR

•

BOTH

•

BOTH

•

OUTDOOR

123

•

OUTDOOR

283

•

1,740

•

OUTDOOR

1,088

•

OUTDOOR

•

OUTDOOR

300

•

OUTDOOR

129

OUTDOOR

250

•

OUTDOOR

481

•

OUTDOOR

294

•

INDOOR

1,108

•

BOTH

•

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

FUTURE ODDS Check out the latest odds for major sporting events. For the latest up-to-the-minute odds, visit GamingandDestinations.com RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM – TAMPA, FLORIDA Team

September July

Baltimore Ravens

13/2

Kansas City Chiefs San Francisco 49ers

New Orleans Saints

6/1

13/2

9/1

7/1

11/1

12/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 14/1 Dallas Cowboys

15/1

Philadelphia Eagles

18/1

15/1 17/1

New England Patriots 18/1 Seattle Seahawks

Indianapolis Colts Buffalo Bills

Minnesota Vikings Pittsburgh Steelers

Green Bay Packers Tennessee Titans

17/1

19/1

20/1

21/1

22/1

24/1

25/1

N/A

25/1

24/1

28/1

25/1

28/1

30/1

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

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WORLD SERIES OCTOBER 1, 2020 Team

September July March

New York Yankees

9/2

Los Angeles Dodgers 7/2

Tampa Bay Rays

Oakland Athletics

Atlanta Braves

Minnesota Twins

Chicago Cubs

17/2

9/1

11/1

14/1

Houston Astros

14/1

Cleveland Indians

15/1

Chicago White Sox 15/1

San Diego Padres

Milwaukee Brewers

20/1

33/1

Philadelphia Phillies 33/1

St. Louis Cardinals

Cincinnati Reds

New York Mets

33/1

40/1

4/1

7/2

3/1

18/1 25/1

25/1 30/1

13/1 14/1

16/1 18/1

22/1 25/1

6/1

8/1

30/1 40/1

22/1 30/1

40/1 N/A

30/1 50/1

20/1 25/1

20/1 20/1

25/1 30/1

22/1 18/1

*All others higher than 40/1. **Odds courtesy of Vegasinsider.com 24

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

NFL SUPER BOWL LV – FEBRUARY 7, 2021 NASCAR CUP SERIES – NOVEMBER 8, 2020 Driver

September

Kevin Harvick

2/1

Martin Truex Jr.

7/1

Denny Hamlin Chase Elliott

Brad Keselowski Kyle Busch

Joey Logano

Ryan Blaney

Aric Almirola Kurt Busch

Alex Bowman

3/1

17/2

10/1

12/1 12/1 16/1

30/1 33/1

40/1

*All others higher than 40/1. **Odds courtesy of Vegasinsider.com

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

Southern Gaming and Destinations - September 2020

Articles inside

Casino Dining Guide: Chef Spotlights

Sports Wagering

Casino Cuisine

Casino Directory

Horse of the Issue

Horseracing

Player Perception

Craps

Racing Reality

Las Vegas Implosions