Southern & Midwest Gaming and Destinations - January 2021

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 VOL. 23 ISSUE 1 GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM $5.00

BETTING FOOTBALL: PLAYING THE PROPS

PAGE 8

BLACKJACK: SPLITTING PAIRS

PAGE 21

WHO WAS...

BUGSY SIEGEL? PAGE 4

PLUS: TIPS ON BLACKJACK • CRAPS • VIDEO POKER & MORE!

Covering Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin and the entire Midwest and South!

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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

Thank God we have turned the page to a new year. If there was ever a year that we wanted to end, it was 2020. Wreaking havoc on everyone and everything from coast to coast and worldwide, I would say it is safe to say that the future looks bright and we can’t wait to get there. We are slowly starting to see casinos being allowed to raise their capacity of guests, dining outlets are starting to buzz again, and we are even seeing some entertainment come back. Hopefully, the trend continues with cases going down, vaccines getting distributed and maybe, just maybe, we’ll see some normalcy this year. Until then, stay strong and safe and we will get through it.

We are excited to present to you another issue loaded with great articles, casino reviews and tips and strategies that we hope will sharpen your game on your next casino visit. This issue is the first of which we decided to combine our Southern and Midwest editions to make one edition that is more comprehensive and robust. We feel that while the tips and strategies are relevant no matter where you are playing, the excitement to read about a casino from a different region just might spur the interest to make the trip for your next gambling getaway. This issue is also the first that we are publishing all online in a digital format only. With COVID restrictions currently limiting distributing the magazine at some of the casinos, as well as a few other factors, we hope that things are moving in the right direction and we can publish a printed edition again for the March Issue. Until then, we appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to deliver great content that will entertain and inform you about the hottest trends and information in the gaming industry.

On the cover of this issue is the famous mobster, and visionary of Sin City, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel. During the 1940’s, Siegel was instrumental in building the Flamingo Casino marking the first of many gambling establishments that you see today in Las Vegas. Always demanding the finest of everything during construction, the cost of the Flamingo soared to over $6 million, equivalent to $60 million today. Check out the article about how he became an iconic figure and his initial involvement in Las Vegas on page 4.

We are also excited to feature two property profiles in this issue that highlight some of the luxuries each offers their guests. Check out our overview on the Iowa gambling gem, Rhythm City Casino Resort, on page 16 and Ameristar Casino Hotel Vicksburg on page 18, for reasons why you should consider both great properties for your next gaming getaway.

Lastly, we want to with you all a Happy New Year and hope you all stay healthy and safe until these times pass. We believe that we will all be happy and joyous in our favorite casinos and racetracks soon and can’t wait for that time to come.

As always, if you can’t be good…be lucky!

LAYOUT AND DESIGN

Hill Harcourt CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

Linda Boyd James Corporon John Grochowski Terry Parrett Steve Simmons GAMING AND DESTINATIONS

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

editor@gaminganddestinations.com The goal of this publication is to help drive awareness of the ever-growing popularity of the gaming industry and to assist gamers in enjoying their gaming experience to the fullest.

Gaming and Destinations is published for those who seek the best in gaming and in life, and is produced bimonthly

by Gaming Media Group Inc. of Louisville, Kentucky. Copyright 2019 by Gaming Media Group Inc. All Rights Reserved. This publication is printed by LSC Communications., Inc. of Shepherdsville, Kentucky.

Postage is paid in Lebanon Junction, Kentucky.

Opinions of columnists are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, nor does Gaming and Destinations assume liability for claims of advertisers.

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G. Douglas Dreisbach President & Publisher

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to Gaming and Destinations, 136 St. Matthews Ave. #300 Louisville, KY 40207 On the cover: Bugsy Siegel was the

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pioneer of Las Vegas. (Photo courtesy | G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M

of Alamy Stock Photos)

IN THIS ISSUE ON THE COVER

4 Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel:

The Visionary of Vegas

A look at the pioneer of Las Vegas and how it came to be.

WINNING TIPS AND STRATEGIES

HIGHLIGHTS & HOT SPOTS:

8

Betting Football:

12 Coastal Mississippi:

Prop Bets and Super Bowl Trends

16 Property Profile:

20 Video Poker:

Take a look at ‘The Secret Coast”

Rhythm City Casino Resort

The year of the mask.

Luxury awaits you at this Iowa casino gem.

21 Blackjack:

The strategy of splitting pairs.

18 Property Profile: Ameristar Casino Hotel Vicksburg

Plan your next gambling getaway to the banks of the Mississippi River.

22 Casino Directory: Our preferred properties and attractions.

26 Sports Wagering:

12

Find the future odds on major sporting events.

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16

18

4 Find us on Facebook

@SouthernGaming

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

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Bugsy Siegel was the pioneer of Las Vegas.

(Photos courtesy of Alamy Stock Photos)

BENJAMIN “BUGSY” SIEGEL THE GANGSTER WHO HAD A DREAM by

Hollywood has a long history of glamorizing the gangster lifestyle on screen. From Depression-era films like “Public Enemy” and “Little Caesar”, through “The Godfather”, “Goodfellas”, and “The Sopranos”, filmmakers have found that audiences will flock to theaters to watch the exploits of fictionalized mobsters.

While the most famous gangster of all, Al Capone, has been portrayed on film more times than any other real-life criminal, one of his contemporaries, Bugsy Siegel, runs a close second. He has been played by actors ranging from Armand Assante to Richard Grieco to Warren Beatty, and in thinly-veiled aliases such as The Godfather’s Moe Greene 4

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

TE R RY PA R R E T T

(whose name was an amalgam of two Siegel cronies, Moe Sedway and Gus Greenbaum). Siegel’s unique personality, his hobnobbing with movie stars, and of course, his leading role in the development of Las Vegas as it currently exists all makes him an irresistible character for celluloid immortality.

Born Benjamin Siegel in 1906, Benhe hated the nickname “Bugsy”began his criminal career at an early age. Dropping out of school to join a local gang, he started by committing small-time thefts with his friend Moe Sedway. By the time Siegel reached his teenage years, he had graduated to extortion, armed

robbery, and eventually murder.

Along the way, Siegel also befriended Meyer Lansky, who would remain a lifelong compatriot and friend.

Lansky realized that it would be safer to operate if he organized his gang in a manner similar to the Italian gangs of the time, and he reached out to Siegel, who happily joined Meyer’s nascent crime organization. The gang expanded into bootlegging, and Siegel began to develop a reputation as a fearless enforcer and hitman for the gang. Their empire flourished as they stole liquor from rival gangs, often killing the heads of other gangs to expand their power.

By 1929, Siegel and Lansky had

accumulated enough power that they were invited to attend the Atlantic City Conference, an event organized

by Chicago gangster Johnny Torrio, as well as Lucky Luciano, and Frank Costello. The purpose of the meeting was to plan for the future of organized crime in America- topics included how to obtain a larger interest in illegal gambling, reducing violence and increasing cooperation between rival gangs, and planning for a post-Prohibition future. As an interesting side-note, the event was held at a hotel provided by Enoch “Nucky” Johnson, who would later become the model for Steve Buscemi’s character on “Boardwalk Empire”. One of the more pivotal decisions made at the event came about because of the refusal of some of the reigning mob bosses to attend the event- two New York bosses, Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano, would not attend because they refused to work with gangs from outside the Italian underworld. This led to the decision by those attending that both Masseria and Maranzano would have to be eliminated to pave the way for future cooperation among gangs of other ethnicities. Siegel was alleged to be one of the four gunmen who pulled the trigger on both Masseria and Maranzano, further cementing his place in the hierarchy of the underworld. Shortly after, Siegel formed Murder Inc, which was the muscle arm of the Italian and Jewish gangs in New York and elsewhere.

Life in the Mob is never a safe one, and by the late 1930s, Siegel had made enough enemies that it was decided that he might be safer on the West Coast. His main job was to develop illegal gambling operations in California, and while doing so, he began to befriend Hollywood celebrities, who found the proximity to danger intoxicating.

Siegel entertained lavishly at his Hollywood home, and stars like George Raft, Cary Grant and Jean Harlow frequently attended, as did

Bugsy (center) with his lawyers Jerry Giesler (left) and Byron Hanna (right) after a murder case against him was dismissed.

up-and-coming names such as Tony Curtis and Frank Sinatra. Siegel took advantage of the access his celebrity friendships gave him by extorting studios to pay him to call off strikes called by unions he had infiltrated.

He would also borrow money from his celebrity friends, confident that they would be too timid to ask for repayment. Siegel’s public reputation took a turn for the worse in the early 1940s, when he went on trial for the murder of childhood friend and fellow mobster Harry Greenburg.

Although Siegel was acquitted, the incident tarnished his cache among the Hollywood crowd, and Siegel took the opportunity to turn his attention elsewhere.

Siegel’s initial interest in Las Vegas

was in providing illegal services to the construction workers building the Hoover Dam, but by 1945, he realized that a legitimate business might be good for both his reputation and his well-being. At the time, Hollywood publisher William Wilkerson had built himself a small empire of nightspots on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip, and he sensed an opportunity in Las Vegas as well.

Siegel took advantage of a cash flow problem on Wilkerson’s part during the construction of The Flamingo Hotel, and in short order coerced Wilkerson into selling the property to him. When Siegel took over, The Flamingo essentially became a Mob-owned property, and Siegel’s plans began to get more grandiose.

Siegel’s vision was that The Flamingo G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

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would offer guests the finest in food, liquor, and entertainment, and that by doing so, it would attract not just high rollers, but hordes of lower tier players as well. This vision would eventually transform Las Vegas from a dusty stopover on the way to Los Angeles into a world-class entertainment mecca.

To achieve his goal, Siegel began spending money at an alarming rate- not only his own personal cash, but Mob money as well. While his reputation as a good earner bought him a good deal of patience with his superiors, that patience was not limitless. The situation became worse once The Flamingo actually opened on Dec. 26, 1946, as few of the highly touted celebrities actually turned up; to make matters worse, constant construction noise made the hotel unpleasant to stay in, and the air conditioning system was unreliable at best. Within 2 weeks, the casino had racked up over $250,000 in losses, and the operation was shutdown within a month to determine how to proceed.

Siegel realized the precariousness of his situation and redoubled his

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A mug shot of Siegel from 1928

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

efforts. Siegel hired a publicist to tout the renovations made and when The Flamingo reopened in March, it paid off. The casino began to turn a profit, and it appeared that Siegel had succeeded.

Of course, history tells a different story. On June 20, 1947, Benny Siegel was sitting in his home when someone fired several shots through his window, killing Siegel with two bullets in the head and two in the torso. The crime remains unsolved, although several theories exist as to motive and actors. The most popular theory, as portrayed in Warren Beatty’s film “Bugsy” and other film reenactments, was that Siegel’s profligate spending and suspected embezzling of Mob money during the construction of The Flamingo led to the order being reluctantly given by his childhood friend Meyer Lansky.

However, according to “The Mob Museum” in Las Vegas, this scenario is unlikely for several reasons. First, by the time of the murder, Siegel had in fact paid back any investors who wanted out of The Flamingo- by May 1947, after the reopening, the

casino had already made $10 million, ruling out the financial reason for the hit. Additionally, the method of Siegel’s execution was outside the standard used in Mob hits; a longrange shooter from outside the home had a high risk of failure. Most mob hits were carried out at close range by pistol. And finally, a close friend of Meyer Lansky’s stated that Lansky would have flatly refused to allow Siegel to be eliminated, regardless of the circumstances. A new theory purports that the killing was actually carried out by one of the brothers of Siegel’s girlfriend, Virginia Hill, and that the motive was personal, not professional.

Regardless of the circumstances of Siegel’s death, his impact on the city of Las Vegas is undeniable. Over 70 years after his death, The Flamingo still stands on the original site, one of the most iconic locations in all of Las Vegas. Bennie Siegel’s vision of a glittering jewel in the desert attracting millions of visitors from around the world to indulge in every pleasure came true, and is his legacy to all who visit Sin City.

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The sportsbook at MGM Grand in Las Vegas is one of the largest in Las Vegas.

BETTING FOOTBALL: PROP BETS AND SUPER BOWL TRENDS by

With online gambling legislation loosening up, it has never been easier to wager on sporting events – especially professional football. With the biggest game of the year- the Super Bowl- right around the corner it’s time to take an in depth look at some of the wagering options available. Much of the fun of betting when it comes to the Super Bowl, is the vast array of proposition bets available. Propositions are bets that go beyond the game itself and are designed to get even the non-sportsperson in on the action and excitement of the big game!

Proposition bets, referred to as prop bets, are the type of bets that can cover the entire spectrum of just about everything in the game. It can be as basic as which team scores first or which quarterback throws more touchdown passes, to old standbys such as the start of the game coin toss, or the length of the National Anthem. If you can think of a bet, odds are pretty good there is an option for it.

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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

STEVE SIMMONS

Some places will even let you propose your own proposition- a “prop” prop if you will. But let’s not get carried away.

As it is, typically the wager amounts for these types of bets are capped to prevent any type of “insider knowledge” to game the system. Sounds funny? The sound team, staff, and everyone who works with the Superstar singer picked to sing the National Anthem will have a decent idea from rehearsals or pre-taping exactly how long their rendition will be. The same goes with the staff making the Gatorade for the players (which eventually gets dumped on the winning coach.) Yes, you can wager on the flavor/color of Gatorade in the Super Bowl.

Some prop bets are more popular than others. Here are some of the most common ones we see, specifically for the Super Bowl.

Heads or Tails on the coin toss. You can literally bet on the outcome of the coin

toss that decides who gets the ball on the first kick off.

The length of the National Anthem. This is extremely popular, and wagering levels increase significantly once the singer for the upcoming Super Bowl is announced.

First team to score. These bets are particularly popular when the Super Bowl features teams with a high-powered offense.

Winning team margin of victory bet. This is a little tricky as it isn’t to be confused with the actual “spread” on the game. In a fairly even matched contest (with the Super Bowl being the final competition between the two best teams) the spread for the favorite should be minimal- usually not much more than 3 points. The margin of victory is a different bet whereby you are wagering upon how much you think the winning team -doesn’t have to be the favorite- will win by.

Number of touchdown passes a quarterback throws. Again, this is a very popular bet when you have a typically very prolific quarterback featured in the game.

As is the case with all forms of gambling, there are no “gimmees.” From a funny, psychological perspective, more money typically favors betting “heads” in the coin toss, although the results are exactly as you would expect- almost a near even split between heads and tails since the first Super Bowl, with a statistically insignificant edge going to “tails.”

While the average margin of victory has been a whopping 14 points (which seems to fly in the face of the average favorite “giving” only 3 points, this number reflects a few blow out Super Bowls where there were very lopsided victories. The number is closer to 6 points over the last ten Super Bowls.

The clearest pattern seems to be in picking the favorite to win “straight up” or “money line,” having won roughly 35 of the previous 53 contests. Betting the favorite in this fashion results in a skewed payout (you get less money for betting more due to the perceived advantage.) Keep in mind, the favorite has actually LOST against the spread more often than not.

The average length of the National Anthem is one minute and fifty-six seconds. Jewel clocked in the fastest time at one minute, twenty-seven seconds.

Alicia Keys holds the longest mark at two minutes thirty-five seconds. This is actually a very interesting bet, because most online betting houses set the time limit at a flat two minutes. In the last ten years, only a couple of performances have eclipsed that two minute mark, making this a fairly compelling prop bet.

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Another popular wager is the most valuable player candidate from the game.

The patterns typically show that the quarterback has won more often than not.

It is extremely rare that a defensive player has won this award, but occasionally, an impactful player on defense capable of changing the direction of the game has won the award.

Lastly here is a bit more advanced betting idea which gets into the area of “betting value.” There are several prop bets that offer a “yes” or “no” answer. Examples are will a sack be awarded or will there be a safety in the game. For many of these types of bets, the “no” option comes with a significant amount of “juice”. With the specific event is so unlikely to happen, that in taking that side, your payout is minimal for the risk. This is where the idea of “value” comes into play. Using the example of “Will there be a safety in the

game, yes or no?” Given the likelihood of a safety is minimal, the juice is -1000. This means you need to bet $1000 to win $100.

Seems ridiculous, right? However, on closer analysis, during the regular season there was an average of only 17 safeties in 256 games, which means we would not be likely to see a safety in 93.4% of the games we watched. At a rate of -1000, that is the equivalent of 90.9% possibility of happening, thus creating a “value proposition” of 2.5%. It may not seem like much, but believe it or not, that is a TREMENDOUS edge.

For the casual fan, you may not want to bury yourself in the math and minutia of analysis available for all the wagering types. You might just want to watch the game and make a few small fun wagers on “feelings.” There is really nothing wrong with that provided you aren’t putting junior’s college tuition on a feeling about the color of Gatorade being poured on the winning coach. Besides, most casual fans of the Super Bowl are more focused on the commercials rather than the game.

Guess what- on some online sites you can even wager on those commercials. The number of car advertisements, alcohol advertisements. It is safe to say, when it comes to the Super Bowl and prop betting, the sky is the limit!

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The Beau Rivage Resort & Casino shines over the Biloxi Bay.

Credit Coastal Mississippi

COA S TA L M I S S I S S I P PI: S O M E T H I N G F O R E V E RYO N E by

Coastal Mississippi is one of the best kept secrets in the South and has grown into a premier casino destination as well.

The area boasts great gambling, beautiful beaches, restaurants and so much more.

The stretch that runs from Moss Point to Waveland features twelve casinos, a buzzing beach scene and a plethora of restaurants located beach front or directly across the street.

We are excited to provide you with an overview of the area, as well as a few recommendations. For a full list of recommendations, offerings and more, visit CoastalMississippi.com.

Before visiting, we encourage you to check with individual businesses on any potential changes to their availability and/or hours, but rest assured Coastal Mississippi is working diligently with hospitality partners to ensure your safety and health is the top priority. The area’s attractions are promising the highest level of safety for guests to visit and welcome your arrival.

B R YA N S H E L M O N

CASINO COLLECTION

The Coastal Mississippi area features twelve casinos ranging from super plush, resort-style casinos, to smaller locations that are frequented by local residents and offer a more intimate atmosphere.

While there are many to choose from, one of our favorite casino resorts to visit is the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, the gem of Biloxi and known for its incredible food and entertainment offerings, as well as the best amenities and hospitality you’ll find anywhere.

Guests can choose from three fine dining experiences with BR Prime, Stalla (Italian) or Jia (Asian). The Buffet at Beau Rivage is currently closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, however the property features other casual dining establishments to satisfy your taste buds.

One of the most recent additions to the Beau Rivage scene is BetMGM Book Bar & Grill where you can hang out to watch and wager on your favorite sports teams while enjoying great food and a wide variety of beers.

In warmer months, guests can enjoy an expansive pool area offering private cabanas and poolside food and drink service while overlooking the Mississippi Sound. And lastly, a trip to a resort is not complete without a visit to the spa, and Beau Rivage can help you out there as well. The Spa at Beau Rivage offers all your favorite services separated into a men’s and women’s side with both offering steam rooms, saunas, Jacuzzis and more. For the golfers of your group, be sure to check out Fallen Oak Golf Course, owned and operated by Beau Rivage and reserved for invited guests of the resort. Designed by the famed Tom Fazio, you will want to reserve the time to dedicate an afternoon to this gem.

Other top casino recommendations are IP Casino Resort and Spa, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and Palace Casino Resort, all located relatively close to one another.

You can’t miss IP Casino Resort and Spa as it is the second-tallest building in G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

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Mississippi and can be seen from miles away. Located on the Back Bay of Biloxi, the resort is home to several fantastic restaurants including thirty-two, a premium steakhouse that is on the thirty second floor of the resort showcasing breathtaking views of The Secret Coast.

Like most first-rate resorts, IP also has a great spa, outdoor rooftop pool area, great gambling and more.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is one of the top casino brands in the world and maintains that image at its Biloxi location. Maintaining the vibrant rockand-roll theme featuring famous music memorabilia, bright lights, and music, you are sure to have a great time at Hard Rock. The property offers great dining with Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Half Shell Oyster House and more, as well as one of the hottest pool scenes on the coast. As you might have guessed, the property also has one of the top concert venues in the area and hosts some of the biggest names in the business, up-and-coming artists, and even some classic bands you have heard forever. Enjoy the many aspects of Hard Rock on your next visit to Biloxi.

Further west on US-90 (Beach Boulevard) you will find other casinos that all carry their own unique characteristics including Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport and Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast and Silver Slipper Casino Hotel both located in Bay St. Louis.

Regardless of where you stay and play, the casinos in Coastal Mississippi are magnificent and ready for your next visit.

For a full list of casinos in the area, visit CoastalMississippi.com.

Enjoy beautiful sunsets along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Beach Boulevard in Biloxi offers one of the most scenic drives in the South overlooking miles of sandy beaches.

BEAUTIFUL BEACHES

Coastal Mississippi offers an array of activities to enjoy ranging from beaches and fishing to golf and shopping. A drive along Beach Boulevard (and the longest man-made beach in the nation) will show you the popular hangouts for locals and tourists alike as well as the scale of beach activities and services including watersports, chair rentals and other accommodations to make your beach day a breeze.

Some of the most popular beaches include Biloxi Beach, Ocean Springs Front Beach, Gulfport Beach and Bay St. Louis Beach.

Biloxi Beach is probably the most popular given its proximity to the casinos.

A convenient walk from Beau Rivage and several other resorts make it an easy getaway to enjoy the soft, white sand and the warm waters of the Mississippi Sound.

FANTASTIC FISHING

There are more than 200 species to catch along The Secret Coast, and there are plenty of fishing charters that will show you where to catch your fair share of fish.

The warm waters make for your choice of inshore fishing, offshore charters, or simply casting a line from a pier or wade fishing in the calm coastal waters.

There are over fifty charter companies that range in price, specialty, and dock location. A few of the top-rated charters are Captain Ron’s Charters (Gulfport), Team Brodie Charters (D’Iberville), 9-Ball Fishing Charters (Long Beach) and Fish-On Charters (Biloxi) and a full list can be found at CoastalMississippi. com.

GREAT GOLF

When it is time to tee it up, there is no better place to be than in Coastal Mississippi. There aren’t too many places where you will find courses designed by this many greats including Tom Fazio, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Davis Love III, Jerry Pate and Mark McCumber, all within a short drive from one another. Setting up for a perfect golf getaway, the courses offer elegant and challenging layouts that will test the best golfers in your group but are designed with the moderate weekend golfers in mind as well. The Tom Fazio designed Fallen Oak is the most premier course in the region and is offered to invited guests of Beau Rivage. From the moment you drive through the gates and approach the clubhouse greeted by the hosts who help you with your bags, you know you are in for a treat. Other popular casinoG A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |

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A Biloxi Schooner is showcased at the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum.

owned courses are The Grand Bear ( Jack Nicklaus) owned by Harrah’s Gulf Coast, The Preserve ( Jerry Pate) owned

by Palace Casino and Bridges Golf Club (Arnold Palmer) owned by Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis. There are also several top-rated non-casino courses including Windance Country Club (Mark McCumber), The Oaks Golf Club and Shell Landing Golf Club. A full list of courses with reviews and ratings can be found at CoastalMississippi.com.

MAGNIFICENT MUSEUMS & HISTORY

The rich history of Coastal Mississippi runs deep, and the landmarks and museums offer a great opportunity to explore the region’s history at your own leisure. Some of the popular attractions are the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum (Biloxi) highlighting some of the maritime history of the area, Fort Massachusetts (Ship Island) that was used by the British to stage their invasion of New Orleans in the War of 1812 and other significant tenants, Beauvoir (Biloxi) is the final home for Jefferson Davis and hosts his Presidential Library on 52-acres of land that also is home to a Confederate Cemetery where the tomb of the Unknown Confederate Soldier resides.

For a full list of museums and historic sites, visit CoastalMississippi.com.

the Southern charm and hospitality that will round out your trip.

Located across the street from the Beau Rivage and Hard Rock in Biloxi is Mary Mahoney’s Old French House Restaurant, a home to family recipes and cuisine for over fifty-five years. Some of the menu favorites not only include Gulffresh seafood and choice cuts of steak, but also signature dishes, such as the famous Shrimp & Lump Crabmeat St. Patrick special, the Sisters of the Sea Au Gratin and the Veal Antonio. Be sure to try a bowl of the World-Famous Seafood Gumbo as it is some of the best we’ve ever had and can be shipped anywhere!

Plan some time before or after your meal to hang out in the bunker-style bar and hear stories from owner and operator Bobby Mahoney, you’ll be glad you did!

If you are in the oyster mood, you can’t go wrong with Half Shell Oyster House featuring several locations including Biloxi, Gulfport and one in the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. While there are several fantastic beach restaurants, one that is always a hit is Shaggy’s located on Biloxi Beach. The outdoor dining patio gives you panoramic views of the Mississippi Sound and Biloxi Beach while offering Gulf-fresh seafood, cold beer and usually music to keep the night going.

And if you are barbecue connoisseur, The Shed is the spot to be, and worth the drive to Ocean Springs to get it.

Featuring all of your favorite smoked meats, owner Brad Orrison and his team have collected just about every award possible and the restaurant has been featured on numerous cooking shows with its unique blend of smoke, rubs and top-quality meats.

For a full list of coastal dining suggestions, visit CoastalMississippi.com.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you are looking for a destination that offers an array of activities, great golf, gambling and dining that is moderately priced and always friendly, Coastal Mississippi is calling your name. Be sure to visit CoastalMississippi.com or call 1-888-467-4853 where you can find a plethora of information and request a free Visitors Guide to help plan your visit. From Moss Point to Waveland, The Secret Coast is awaiting your visit!

DELECTABLE DINING

Coastal Mississippi features some of the best restaurants in the region. While most of the casinos feature fantastic fine dining, you will also find some great options that are locally owned and operated and offer 14

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

The Walter Anderson Museum of Art is a nationally accredited art museum located in historic Ocean Springs.

®

Exceptional!

Exciting Gaming, Delicious Cuisine & Award Winning Spa

Rhythm City Casino Resort 7077 Elmore Avenue Davenport, IA 52807 1.844.852.4FUN | www.rhythmcitycasino.com Elite Casino Resorts, LLC Rhythm City Casino Resort™ | Riverside Casino & Golf Resort® | Grand Falls 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 |

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Rhythm City offers plush accommodations for guests.

RHYTHM CITY CASINO RESORT: LUXURIOUS OP TIONS FOR GUE STS by

While casinos are primarily known for great gaming, there is no doubt that the amenities and offerings that surround the gaming are just as much of an attraction as the games themselves. Realizing this, casino properties have upped their game with features like spas, fine dining and other luxuries that will keep customers happy and coming back. Rhythm City Casino Resort in Davenport, Iowa is a preferred property of Midwest Gaming and offers the highest level of quality and luxury that any gaming enthusiast would love.

Whether it’s the sleek, classy hotel rooms or the delicious food at Ruthie’s Steak and Seafood, Rhythm City Casino Resort has something for everyone.

The resort was designed to be luxurious and enjoyable for visitors and the high16

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JAMES CORPORON

quality amenities insure that. Whether you’re relaxing, eating, gaming, or even being taken care of in the spa, you’re able to feel the quality and luxury around every turn.

BEAUTIFUL HOTEL ROOMS

Rhythm City Casino Resort has some of the best hotel rooms in the business.

With beautiful tile floors and designer light fixtures, the property is committed to a high level of quality and cleanliness.

There are a variety of suites to choose from with three main options that seem to always impress customers.

THE CONCIERGE SUITE

The Concierge Suite offers an expansive layout filled with an array of lighter reds and whites for its décor and great views of the surrounding area. Guests will find several nice additions in the multi-room

Rooms on the higher floors offer amazing views of the area.

layout including a whirlpool tub and a glass encased shower, two vanities and two televisions, one in the bedroom and one in the living room.

DELUXE KING SUITE WITH WHIRLPOOL TUB

As the name might give away, one of this suite’s greatest benefits is the relaxing whirlpool tub, however a convenient kitchenette with a refrigerator is a nice touch. The entire decor screams luxury with contemporary colors and furniture that will offer a great start or end to the day.

THE GRAND MASTER SUITE

This suite offers the height of luxury at Rhythm City with a host of unique amenities and luxurious decorations that you won’t find anywhere else in the casino. The double entry door entrance opens up to a brightly lit marble foyer, and from there, it only gets better with a wet bar in the dining area, a guest powder room, and a large separate bedroom with an adjoining master bathroom with a jacuzzi jet tub with a stone and glass walk in shower. The decor is chic and modern and catches the eye the instant that you enter the room. Guests will find all of the other common amenities, and the true draw of this room is the multiple rooms, the extra space, the jet jacuzzi tub, and the incredibly luxurious decor available to the guests that stay in it.

The Grand Master Suite offers a spacious layout with a contemporary decor.

Peter Sedlak, popular items include the Steak Tartare and Lobster Bisque for appetizers and Filet Marmalade and Prime Rib for entrees. If you are craving a seafood selection, the Atlantic Salmon, Wild Harvested Sea Scallops and Wild Halibut are all winners.

In addition to the main dining room and lounge area, accommodations can also be made for larger groups in private dining room areas as well.

THE DELICATE CARE OF THE SPA

Ruthie’s Steak & Seafood is a Midwest Gaming Magazine Best Casino Restaurant Award recipient.

RUTHIE’S STEAK & SEAFOOD

If you are looking for fine dining, look no further than Ruthie’s Steak & Seafood.

Located on the top floor of the property, guests will enjoy amazing views of the Quad City area while enjoying premium selections of steaks and seafood.

Led by the experience of Chef D’Cuisine,

Finally, to relax as much as possible, be sure to schedule some time in the Spa at Rhythm City. Guests can enjoy a wide variety of common treatments as well as unique, customized packages to suit those who may be looking for something different in their spa stay. Above all, it is a holistic spa experience that is specifically designed to generate as much recovery of mind and body, and relaxation, as possible.

Some of the more common treatments that the spa offers are things like massages, facials, nail services, hair & waxing, lashes & brows, and body treatments. The spa offers a huge list of different services and customized, combined packages that make sure a guest has the exact kind of stay and experience that they want to have.

Consider, for example, the Day of Decadence package: a combination of a long facial, an even longer massage, and a body scrub with a pedicure and a Shellac Manicure. It will leave your whole body feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, hitting the hardest, most stressed areas and providing comfort and care to the parts of you that need the most help.

Other, more simpler packages focus harder on the massage side or the pedicure or manicure side of the spa, such as the Spa Rejuvenate 1 or Spa Rejuvenate 2 package. All of the packages, though, offer great relaxation and comfort to the guests that experience them.

The Spa at Rhythm City offers something for everyone, and a sure bet is you are looking for relaxation, comfort and luxury.

Overall, Rhythm City Casino Resort offers luxury around every corner.

Whether you are looking for great gaming, decadent dining or sensational spas, you’re sure to find it at Rhythm City.

For more information and reservations, visit RhythmCityCasino.com or call 1-844-852-4386.

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

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The casino at Ameristar offers almost 1,200 machines, 27 tables and a ten-table live poker room.

PROPERTY PROFILE: AMERISTAR CASINO HOTEL - VICKSBURG , MISSISSIPPI by

If you ever want to visit one of the greatest attractions in all of Mississippi, look no further than the Ameristar Casino Hotel in historic Vicksburg. It’s the largest riverboat casino in Mississippi, and according to Ameristar’s website, also ‘the most exciting’.

It’s the premier destination for sports betting in Central Mississippi, with the amount of betting options the casino offers.

The casino features over 1200 slot machines and video poker games, 27 table games, and even has its own poker room that’s the only one in all of Vicksburg. The Ameristar Casino offers a great mix of hospitality, excitement, and relaxation, and they’re happy to provide it to all of their customers.

Opening in 1994, the huge casino boasts 148 hotel rooms, over 70,000 square feet of gaming space on the property, and a variety of other options available for guests, like a nice list of dining options and the availability of sports betting. The company was purchased by Penn National Gaming in 2018, but celebrates operating for over 26 years as Ameristar Casino Hotel Vicksburg.

The property carries all kinds of different games, from penny slots all the way up to $100 machines. Different kinds of cuisine are available to guests, depending on their taste and their membership status. Finally, 18

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JAMES CORPORON

their rooms are equipped with European bedding and range from Deluxe King all the way to the Executive Suite, the most luxurious option available at the Ameristar Casino Hotel. Recently, they added a workout room with cutting edge exercise equipment.

A LARGE LIST OF AMENITIES The casino is equipped with a variety of different amenities for all kinds of guests-even ones who aren’t totally focused on the gaming aspect of the property. The Ameristar Casino Hotel is equipped with four different dining options. They also feature live music, ticketed concerts, and free shows. Musical genres range from country and rock to Delta blues and R&B. Live entertainment has been restricted due to COVID, but they hope to bring it all back in 2021.

The Bottleneck Blues Bar can seat up to 300 people and is known state-wide as a great place to see live music. It features classy décor, like crystal chandeliers and custom-designed seating decorated with bottle caps. The bar offers a wide variety of beverages and many shows are free. The entire bar is designed to pay homage to the exact kind of atmosphere that Southern bars tend to have. Some of the things you can find in the Bottleneck Blues Bar are

simple things like dice, old records, and paintings of famous musicians: but it’s exactly these kinds of earthy decorations that give the bar its homey feel, even while located on the property of a far swankier hotel and casino. Local music groups from Mississippi as well as national acts have played here, and the Bottleneck has hosted the regional event for the International Blues Competition for many years.

The Bottleneck Blues Bar is a great spot for live music.

SLOTS AND GAMES GALORE The Ameristar Casino Hotel has over 1200 slots, 27 table games, and a live poker room with 10 tables. This is a rather large, respectable selection of gaming to choose from, and some of their more popular slots include games like Buffalo Gold, Dragon

Link, 88 Fortunes, and Whales of Cash.

The large range of prices between all of the different slots makes sure that even more frugal or wary customers can play without spending too much money at the casino. If you’re feeling lucky, or just want to take a chance, the more expensive slots and table games are there for that.

Blackjack, Cajun Stud, Flop Poker, High Card Flush and more are available as table games. The casino has three full-sized craps tables. The casino also features a monthly promotion for table game players only, where guests earn entries based on how much time they spend playing table games or live poker.

Finally, the End Zone is a large sports bar available for guests at the Ameristar Casino Hotel. It’s the premier location in Central Mississippi for sports betting, with 100 seats, 23 large screen TVs, a giant hi-def screen with an incredible sound system, and a nice list of different kinds of draft beer to drink while you watch and bet on games. The sports book will take your action on most any game and offers more sports betting options than the majority of sports books in Mississippi. They have 17 user friendly betting kiosks, or you can even download their “build your bet” app and build your bets at home. Then you just come in, scan your bet at the sports book, and your done.

HIGH QUALITY DINING No casino or resort would be complete without delicious dining options, and the Ameristar Casino Hotel has several of these. Four, in fact, and they each focus on different varieties of cuisine. Hours of operation may be limited at some restaurants due to the pandemic. The property is observing sanitization and social distancing requirements, but still offering some great options to sit down and enjoy a meal or grab something to go.

The Heritage Restaurant is the first of the four. It has a midlevel price range that includes all-you-can-eat, and it’s open for dinner Wednesday thru Sunday, and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. The Heritage restaurant mainly serves southern cuisine and even has options to add a pound of crab legs or a dozen grilled oysters to your meal.

Bourbon’s is a premium steakhouse. It features high quality steaks and seafood, with delicious familiar southern sides and appetizers like creamy mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, hand cut fries, fried green tomatoes, and Louisiana BBQ Shrimp. It’s on the more expensive end, depending on what you order, but guaranteed to be good.

Bella’s Bakery and Cafe features quick bites, for dine-in as well as take-out. Some of the most popular items on Bella’s menu are the Po Boys and spicy hot wings, but there are lots of other options, from pizza to burgers, available too.

Club 38 is a VIP lounge that offers Ameristar’s best guests a luxurious place to relax, with complimentary food and drinks.

It is considered an exclusive benefit of the mychoice program, only available to the top members of said program.

The Lucky Dragon Noodle Cart is a smaller, more recent addition to dining.

Added two years ago, this was made part of the Ameristar Casino to add more Asian options and foreign cuisine to the dining available at the property.

SPECIAL PROMOTIONS AND DEALS The Ameristar Casino Hotel features a wide array of different promotions, deals, specials, discounts, and other worthwhile things for their guests to look into. Not the least of these is their mychoice program, which offers exclusive benefits to over twenty million mychoice members, at more than forty Penn National Gaming properties across the country. The mychoice program is available at all of them, and the mychoice card works whenever you visit any of their properties.

They now even have a mychoice app so that guests can check their mychoice accounts and offers on their smart phone.

It also ties in to all of the other promotions.

Guests earn entries for drawings, gifts, mystery games on the mychoice kiosks, extra bonuses, free meals, and more by playing with their mychoice card. There are monthly promotions, such as the jackpot and table game drawings, and other daily promotions that change each month. The point is there is sure to be something going on virtually anytime you visit. And they’re celebrating that 2020 is behind us with their $150,000 Fun in 2021 Giveaway, in January and February.

They even offer an online social gaming platform, where you can play slot games and other table games, just for fun at mychoicecasino.com. There’s no betting here but you can earn benefits in the mychoice program.

THOUGHTS & CONCLUSIONS The Ameristar Casino Hotel is a great place to go if you want a wonderful gaming experience. The prices it offers aren’t too high, but if you’re interested in spending more there’s plenty of flexibility for any kind of guest to spread their wings. In addition to that, their large variety of slots, restaurants, bars, entertainment, and lodgings means that a guest can totally customize their experience to be exactly how they want it to be.

If you have a love of gambling, an enjoyment of fine dining, or even just happen to really dig a good country or rock and roll show, the Ameristar Casino Hotel might be the perfect getaway for you. It has something for everyone, right in the middle of the South, and guests can be sure of a great experience if they choose to attend.

The rooms offer a spacious and comfortable place to relax and unwind.

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

19

PLAYER STRATEGY

VIDEO POKER: The Year of the Mask According to the Chinese zodiac 2020 was the Year of the Rat starting on the Chinese New Year on January 25, 2020 until Lunar New Year’s Eve on February 11, 2021. From February until the end of this year it’s the Year of the Ox. The Rat is the first in the 12-year cycle of the calendar. I will, however, always remember 2020 as the “Year of the Mask”! I’m sure 2021 will be better but for now it’s starting off as another “Year of the Mask”. That means if we want to keep casinos afloat, and we do, then we need to be familiar with Covid requirements and abide by the rules. That can get tricky if you play in a variety of jurisdictions so here are some guiding tips.

Covid Regulations: There’s still controversy regarding why casinos are open but some other businesses are closed. For those who want to keep the casino doors ajar, it’s important to play safe by following the rules.

Masks: Most casinos will give you a free mask at the door if you ask, but call ahead to make sure.

Even though we all have many of our own it’s a good idea to either wash them after every use or replace them with new ones. Take advantage of the free masks available at the casino’s entrance to better protect yourself and others.

Social Distancing: Some of the cutesy signs on devices are a bit annoying, like a happy face with “I’m social distancing” on the machine. It means your favorite game may be unavailable and you may have to consider alternatives, especially during peak times. Plan ahead by either arriving early or having thought of several options. If you’re primarily a video poker (VP) player consider some “must go” jackpots on traditional slots. They’re definitely more volatile but just like the royal Flush in VP, it boosts the return considerably when hit. I’ll have more details on smart slot play in future issues of this publication.

Diminished Capacity: Legislative jurisdictions vary on the percentage of capacity allowed, mostly between 25% and 50%. Make sure you call ahead to determine the specifics, especially on weekends.

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VP Games: I’ve heard rumors that casinos are paying out less on VP due to the fact that the industry has lost mega dollars. Be aware, however, that the ER (expected return) is still based solely on the pay schedule (unless you’re playing in a jurisdiction that allows non-random number generator VLTs) that can be accessed from the home screen. Use the tables in my book, “The Video Poker Edge”, to determine the ER, assuming accurate play.

Comps and Promotions: Due to Covid some casinos have diminished the use of kiosks for promos and there are fewer rewards for frequent players. Although this is true, the quality of both comps and promotional events varies widely. Check all mailers carefully and consider adding the app for your favorite casinos to your smart phone. There are still some excellent offers for multiple points and food comps. Unfortunately, entertainment venues are mostly shut down.

Beverage Service: You can no longer get your own non-alcoholic beverages at most casinos and wait-staff is down and extremely busy. Consider going to the bar to order instead of waiting for a server. Make sure you tip the servers and bartenders because they’re deserving, and everyone is trying to make a living.

Hotel Stays: This, too, is a mixed bag but many casinos are opening their hotels and comping rooms. Mostly, you can expect resorts and hotels reopening in states with low virus numbers and my experience has been finding meticulous rooms. The staff has been excellent and happy to be back at work.

Looking to the Future: There’s no doubt that 2020 was a tough year globally and 2021 has started out as another “Year of the Mask”.

I expect the gaming industry to survive these hard times and make adjustments as needed to stay in business. There will be safe and creative solutions to provide entertainment, dining, promotional events and hotel stays.

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, Arizona Player and several other national gaming outlets.

You can see her videos on YouTube and her radio interviews are on iTunes.

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

“CALL AHEAD TO DETERMINE THE SPECIFICS, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS.”

FOR MORE FREE TIPS, VISIT GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM

PLAYER STRATEGY by

JOHN GROCHOWSKI

BLACKJACK: Splitting Pairs Any blackjack player who’s studied basic strategy has this pair-splitting maxim deeply ingrained: Always split Aces and 8s. Never split 5s or 10s.

There’s one minor exception. With two or more decks in play in a game where the dealer hits soft 17 and late surrender is offered, it’s better to surrender 8-8 against a dealer’s Ace. Some hands are closer calls than others. Let’s check out some numbers for six-deck games where dealers hit soft 17 -- the most common blackjack games around today.

SPLITTING 8s Sometimes splitting the pair is an aggressive move to get an edge in a hand. Other times, we split to reduce a loss. With 8-8 as our first two cards, we split to get an edge whenever the dealer has a 7 or lower.

Example: When the dealer has a 6 up, we’ll average a 12.5-cent loss per dollar wagered if we stand. We wouldn’t even consider hitting, where the average loss zooms to 43.8 cents per dollar.

But if we make a second bet equal to the first, split the pair and have two hands of 8 each against a dealer’s 6, we’re in profit territory. Now our average result is winning 38.3 cents per dollar of our original wager.

“THESE ARE NOT CLOSE CALLS. ALWAYS HIT ACES.”

Note that “per dollar of our original wager” part.

Given a $10 original bet an additional $10 on a split, the average win when splitting 8s vs. 6 would be $3.83 -- 38.3 cents per dollar of the original wager.

The closest call on the profit side is splitting 8s vs. a 2. The average loss of 28.4 cents when standing becomes a 7.4-cent profit when splitting -- a gain of 35.8 cents per dollar of the original wager.

The widest swing comes in splitting 8s vs. a 7.

There, average losses are 48 cents when standing and 40.8 cents when hitting -- the only hand among the profit turners where hitting is better than standing. That turns into a 31.8 profit when splitting, a 72.6-cent gain over the next best play.

FOR MORE FREE TIPS, VISIT GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM

When the dealer has 8 or higher, we split to cut losses. The biggest gain is 8-8 vs. 8, where we lose 51.3 cents per dollar when standing, 45.3 cents when hitting, but only 3.0 cents when splitting.

The closest call is 8-8 vs. 8, with losses of 59.5 cents when standing, 53.9 when hitting and 51.4 when splitting. Those numbers are why we’d surrender if we have the option. We give up half

our bet when surrendering, so the average loss on surrender is always 50 cents per dollar.

SPLITTING ACES Standard procedure when we split Aces is that we can split only once and get only one card on each Ace. No hitting, and it’s a rare casino that allows us to resplit if we draw another Ace. On the average, splitting Aces will turn a profit against every dealer up card. If the dealer has 8 or lower, hitting also is profitable, but splitting brings the biggest profit. The closest call in those hands is 8-8 vs. 8, where hitting wins an average of 9.5 cents per dollar, while splitting brings 36.9.

When the dealer has a 9, hitting Ace-Ace is basically a break-even play, with an average loss of three-hundredths of a cent per dollar wagered.

Splitting turns that into a 27.3-cent profit per dollar of your first bet.

Hitting would bring losses of 6.6 cents vs. 10 and 6.5 cents vs. Ace. But when splitting, there are average profits of 18.1 cents vs. 10 and 12.1 cents vs. Ace. These are not close calls. Always hit Aces.

SPLITTING 5s and 10s Not much needs to be said about splitting 5s. Why would you want to start a hand with 5 instead of 10? When you have a favorable situation, you can make your extra bet by doubling down.

Example: With 5-5 vs. 6, average profits are 29.4 cents if you hit, 58.7 cents if you double, but crash to 10.4 cents if you split.

With 5-5, follow basic strategy for 10s and double down against 2 through 9 and hit against 10 and Ace. As for splitting 10s, you already have a strong hand with a 20. Don’t risk a good thing by splitting.

Some players think they should split 10s against 5 or 6 to get an extra bet on the table while they have an edge. They do have an edge on those hands, but splitting shrinks average profits.

Your average profit when standing on two 10-values is 67.7 cents vs. either 5 or 6. Split, and that profit is reduced to 50.1 cents vs. 6 and 42.4 cents vs. 5.

There’s a reason basic strategy says to always split Aces or 8s and never split 5s or 10s. Those are the money plays.

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

21

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

•

42

1,150

FRENCH LICK RESORT

FrenchLick.com

888-936-9360

•

37

1,000

GOLD STRIKE CASINO RESORT

goldstrike.com

662-357-1111

53

1,400

HOLLYWOOD CASINO TUNICA

hollywoodcasinotunica.com

662-357-7700

28

1,079

41

1,563

34

1,275

54

1,224

57

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

79

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

96

1,800

IP CASINO RESORT & SPA

ipbiloxi.com

228-436-3000

•

60

1,475

SCARLET PEARL CASINO RESORT

scarletpearlcasino.com

888-266-5772

•

30

950

SILVER SLIPPER CASINO HOTEL

silverslipper-ms.com

228-469-2777

•

25

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

55

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

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#

* 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 |

23

MIDWEST

CASINO DIRECTORY WEBSITE

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

PHONE NUMBER

*CC PARTNER

TABLES

MACHINES

KENTUCKY DERBY CITY GAMING

DERBYCITYGAMING.COM

502-961-7600

900

INDIANA BELTERRA CASINO RESORT & SPA

BELTERRACASINO.COM

800-472-6311

RISING STAR CASINO RESORT

RISINGSTARCASINO.COM

INDIANA GRAND CASINO

•

40

1,600

812-438-1234

29

897

INDIANAGRAND.COM

877-386-4463

50

2,000+

HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO, SIOUX CITY

HARDROCKCASINOSIOUXCITY.COM

712-226-7600

25

839

RIVERSIDE CASINO & GOLF RESORT

RIVERSIDECASINOANDRESORT.COM

877-677-3456

32

1,150

RHYTHM CITY CASINO RESORT

RHYTHMCITYCASINO.COM

844-852-4386

35

850

SOARINGEAGLECASINO.COM

888-732-4537

79

3,056

IOWA •

MICHIGAN SOARING EAGLE CASINO & RESORT MGM GRAND DETROIT

MGMGRANDDETROIT.COM

877-888-2121

98

4,000

ISLAND RESORT AND CASINO

ISLANDRESORTANDCASINO.COM

800-682-6040

14

1,200

GUN LAKE CASINO

GUNLAKECASINO.COM/

269-792-7777

33

1,600

BLACK BEAR CASINO RESORT

BLACKBEARCASINORESORT.COM

888-771-0777

14

1,850

TREASURE ISLAND RESORT & CASINO

TICASINO.COM

800-222-7077

44

2,200

GRAND CASINO HINCKLEY

GRANDCASINOMN.COM

800-472-6321

44

3,500

GRAND CASINO MILLE LACS

GRANDCASINOMN.COM

800-626-5825

30

3,100

AMERISTAR CASINO HOTEL KANSAS CITY

AMERISTAR.COM/KANSAS-CITY

816-414-7000

115

2,300

LUMIERE PLACE CASINO AND HOTELS

LUMIEREPLACE.COM

877-450-7711

55

1,600

RIVER CITY CASINO & HOTEL, ST. LOUIS

RIVERCITY.COM

888-578-7289

54

2,000

JACK CASINO CINCINNATI

JACKENTERTAINMENT.COM/CINCINNATI

513-252-0777

100

2,000

HOLLYWOOD CASINO COLUMBUS

HOLLYWOODCOLUMBUS.COM

614-308-3333

76

2,200

JACK CASINO CLEVELAND

JACKENTERTAINMENT.COM/CLEVELAND

216-297-4777

100

1,600

HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO, TULSA

HARDROCKCASINOTULSA.COM

800-760-6700

40

2,600

WINSTAR CASINO & RESORT

WINSTARWORLDCASINO.COM

580-276-4229

97

7,400

HO-CHUNK GAMING, WITTENBERG

HO-CHUNKGAMING.COM/WITTENBERG

715-253-4400

HO-CHUNK GAMING, BLACK RIVER FALLS

HO-CHUNKGAMING.COM/BLACKRIVERFALLS

800-657-4621

HO-CHUNK GAMING, TOMAH

HO-CHUNKGAMING.COM/TOMAH

866-880-9822

HO-CHUNK GAMING, WISCONSIN DELLS

HO-CHUNKGAMING.COM/WISCONSINDELLS

800-746-2486

HO-CHUNK GAMING, MADISON

HO-CHUNKGAMING.COM/MADISON

608-223-9576

HO-CHUNK GAMING, NEKOOSA

HO-CHUNKGAMING.COM/NEKOOSA

800-782-4560

50

650

NORTH STAR CASINO RESORT

NORTHSTARCASINORESORT.COM

800-952-0195

16

1,200

ST. CROIX CASINO TURTLE LAKE

STCROIXCASINO.COM

POTAWATOMI HOTEL & CASINO

PAYSBIG.COM

800-846-8946 800-729-7244

22 100

1,095 3,000

MINNESOTA

MISSOURI

OHIO

OKLAHOMA

WISCONSIN 517 10

634 96

50

1,832 1,200

#

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

# OF ROOMS

ENT. VENUE

GOLF

SPA

POOL

689

•

•

•

•

294

•

•

54

•

201

• •

•

•

328

• • •

408

•

•

788

•

•

•

•

967

• •

•

•

• •

•

INDOOR

•

• •

116

517 400

967

294

• •

200

•

184

•

•

•

• •

• INDOOR

• • •

• • •

INDOOR

184 294 200

454 1,500

• •

• •

86 140

•

302

• •

129

•

161 391

• •

• •

•

•

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

25

FUTURE ODDS Check out the latest odds for major sporting events. For the latest up-to-the-minute odds, visit GamingandDestinations.com NFL SUPER BOWL LV – FEBRUARY 7, 2021 RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM – TAMPA, FLORIDA

THE MASTERS – APRIL 8-11, 2021 AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB – AUGUSTA, GEORGIA

Team

Player

January

January

November

September July

Kansas City Chiefs

2/1

4/1

6/1

13/2

Dustin Johnson

8/1

Green Bay Packers

9/2

11/1

28/1

25/1

Jon Rahm

10/1

Buffalo Bills

7/1

22/1

25/1

N/A

Rory McIlroy

10/1

New Orleans Saints

7/1

13/1

11/1

12/1

Bryson DeChambeau

11/1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10/1

12/1

14/1

15/1

Justin Thomas

11/1

Baltimore Ravens

12/1

6/1

9/2

7/1

Brooks Koepka

12/1

Seattle Seahawks

13/1

15/2

20/1

21/1

Xander Schauffele

18/1

Pittsburgh Steelers

22/1

11/1

25/1

24/1

Patrick Cantlay

22/1

Tennessee Titans

28/1

15/1

28/1

30/1

Webb Simpson

22/1

Patrick Reed

27/1

Colin Morikawa

29/1

*All others higher than 28/1. **Odds courtesy of Vegasinsider.com

NCAA COLLEGE BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP APRIL 6, 2021 Team

January November

Gonzaga Bulldogs

9/2

9/1

Villanova Wildcats

7/1

8/1

Baylor Bears

8/1

8/1

Wisconsin Badgers

9/1

16/1

Houston Cougars

11/1

N/A

Kansas Jayhawks

11/1

11/1

Illinois Fighting Illini

12/1

15/1

Iowa Hawkeyes

13/1

9/1

Tennessee Volunteers

13/1

N/A

Texas Longhorns

13/1

N/A

Missouri Tigers

15/1

N/A

West Virginia Mountaineers

15/1

20/1

*All others higher than 15/1. **Odds courtesy of Vegasinsider.com.

26

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

*All others higher than 29/1. **Odds courtesy of VegasInsider.com.

KENTUCKY DERBY – MAY 1, 2021 CHURCHILL DOWNS RACETRACK – LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY Horse Future Pool 1 Odds (Nov. 2020) Life Is Good

5/1

Essential Quality

8/1

Highly Motivated

18/1

Jackie’s Warrior

18/1

Keepmeinmind 19/1 Caddo River

27/1

Fire At Will

30/1

Hot Rod Charlie

34/1

Red Flag

35/1

Reinvestment Risk

35/1

Saville Row

36/1

All Other 3 Year Olds

6/5

*All other entries are over 36/1 odds. **Odds courtesy of KYDerby.com

S E Z I R P T S E T T THE HO

WIN 1 OF® 5

CADILLAC XTs! SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 12 PM • ONE $5,000 CASH & $5,000 RED HOT CREDITS WINNER

2 PM – 8 PM • ONE CADILLAC® XT4 WINNER EVERY TWO HOURS 10 PM • ONE CADILLAC® 2021 XT6 PREMIUM LUXURY AWD WINNER

EARN ENTRIES JANUARY 1 – FEBRUARY 27 Receive one FREE entry by playing any eligible slot or table game with your Red Hot Rewards Club card.

Receive one additional entry for every 100 points earned.

FireKeepersCasino.com | 877.FKC.8777 | I-94 Exit 104 | 11177 Michigan Avenue Limit of one win from 2 PM – 10 PM. Actual make, model and color may vary from photos and on-property display. Must be present to win. Must activate drawing entries on drawing day within one hour prior to the drawing time. See the Red Hot Rewards Club booth for complete details.

Management reserves all rights.

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 |

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