David Matthews' Gambling in Space

Why I Likely Won't Play this Year's WSOP

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:31:00 -0700

Sometimes people ask me what I do and I say I play poker. It was hard to say something like that 10 years ago before the poker boom. Most people imagined that saying you were a professional gambler was the same as saying you were a professional money...

Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Pictures

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:08:00 -0700

If you have any interest in aquariums and you're coming to Las Vegas, I highly recommend a trip to the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. I recently paid a visit to this attraction when my family was in town including my young niece and nephew who really ha...

$1,000 Online Poker Transfer to Wrong Person

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:42:00 -0700

Many online poker sites will allow player to player transfer of funds. One person found out to the tune of a $1,000 loss that mistakes are possible. For example, let's say Player A has $800 in his account and his friend Player B is unable to find a ...

Like Most Professions, Gamblers Must Pay Their Dues

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:47:00 -0700

I know a number of people who've come to Las Vegas to make it as professional gamblers (PGs), primarily as poker players. They're generally in their early twenties to early thirties and they believe that they have the skills to make it in this town g...

Poker, the Economy, and Other Musings

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:08:00 -0700

I imagine there are few industries these days that aren't feeling the effects of the economy. The poker rooms of Las Vegas are no exception. I see the effects both on the employees and the players alike. The feeling is tangible and distressing. I wi...

M Resort First Impressions

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:25:00 -0700

If possible I like to visit casinos on opening night to get a feel for the excitement of a new property and to see what kind of gambling opportunities are offered. The M Resort opened Sunday night at 10 PM and I was one of the first people through th...

Viva McDonalds Pictures

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:42:00 -0700

I was out on the Strip late night and decided to see the new Viva McDonalds. I'm not a frequent McDonalds eater. But since it's unique to Vegas for now I thought I'd see what it looked like. Same food but a bit different atmosphere i'd say. Here's a ...

Is Gambling a Sin ?

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:48:00 -0700

Poking around on the Internet I found the Christian group Focus on the Family's position statement on gambling. There is a pervasive subset of America's population (and hence it's voting population) that shares a similar ideal with Biblical scripture...

Casino Cocktail Waitress Complaint

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:34:00 -0700

There appear to be a number of cocktail waitresses in the casinos who feel that their particular existence in the casino trumps the importance of anyone or anything else. They like to lean down into your ear and yell "Cocktails! Beverages!"...

Academy Awards Odds

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:09:00 -0700

Here are the current betting odds on the Oscars care of PinnacleSports.com. Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke are in a virtual dead heat to win the Best Actor award. In the other categories, the favorites have a bit of separation from the contenders. If t...

Super Bowl Prop Bets

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:39:00 -0700

Here's a list of bets I currently have on Sunday's game. My bets range from a minimum of $100 to around $1,500 on a couple of them. I'm not going to say which ones I bet heavier here but I'll list the bets one by one. Super Bowl Bets C...

Caesars Poker Jacks Up the Rake and Other Poker News

Sat, 24 Jan 2009 08:03:00 -0700

Caesars Palace's poker room now has the dubious distinction of being the most expensive poker room in Las Vegas in which to play poker. Well, they're actually tied for worst... with all the other Harrah's properties. Caesars is now a $5 rake plus a ...

Guacamole Recipe and Encore Pictures

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:58:00 -0700

There's been some interest in my guacamole recipe so I'm posting it here. I'm throwing in some Encore pictures after that so that I can keep this a Vegas theme and not make people angry. I do, however, reserve the right to post anything and everythin...

Palazzo Parking Picture Confusion

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 08:38:00 -0700

Some astute people commented that the Palazzo parking picture actually had the mammoth SUV parked in another row other than the one marked by the sign. There is some truth to that. The other side of the sign says that the spots are reserved for carp...

A Few Venetian/Palazzo Notes

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:03:00 -0700

Poker: I've been spending a bit of time at Venetian lately because I'm starting to believe that their poker room is the best in town for all except the highest stakes games. They have good comps, good rake, good service, good food, daily tournaments...

The Mother of All Online Poker Workstations

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:22:00 -0700

I found this link to a new computer workstation that will be available for purchase in a few months. The link that sent me to the article estimates that the cost will be around $40,000 for one of these for your home or office although the article its...

Miami Trip and Hard Rock Seminole Casino Visit

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:01:00 -0700

For the last week of 2008 our family decided on a trip to South Florida, specifically Coral Gables where my sister-in-law's parents live. Going to 80 degree weather in the middle of winter seemed like a heckuva idea to me so off we went. The place...

Salon.com Berates Vegas

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 02:45:00 -0700

Poking around on Salon.com I came across an article by David Sirota that is an ambitious piece. Ambitious in that not only does it say that Las Vegas is a hedonistic society destroying our environment and morality, but that it's also a microcosm of a...

A Few Pictures: Snow in Vegas, CityCenter, and MGM Sports Book

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:39:00 -0700

Just a few pictures taken with my camera phone. My real camera is broken so I'll have to get a new one. In the mean time, the quality is lacking a bit. Captions underneath photos: My Courtyard and Fountain with Snow Snow in the Backyar...

Staking Players and Loaning Money in a Poker Room

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 02:13:00 -0700

Neither a borrower nor lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all: to thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man....

Catherine Hanaway Says Gambling on the Net is Legal

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:53:00 -0700

Interesting video of Catherine Hanaway who is an Attorney for the US Justice Department in Missouri's Eastern District saying that online gambling is not prohibited by law. The video is only 35 seconds long. Note that she was instrumental in the arr...

60 Minutes To Air Online Poker Piece on Nov. 30

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:32:00 -0700

The CBS news program 60 Minutes will air a segment about online poker this Sunday. I expect topics to be covered ot be the cheating at Absolute Poker and UltimateBet as well as the overall argument pro and against allowing Internet poker in the USA. ...

Nevada Blue Law? Car Dealerships Closed on Sundays?

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:17:00 -0700

I moved to Las Vegas in August of 2002 and found a city that in many ways was, in a social sense, more liberal and less conservative than any other place I'd lived. You are allowed to carry an open container of alcohol, like a beer, down the street. ...

Flu Shots are Positive EV

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:16:00 -0700

Unless you have an allergy or other medical condition that prevents you from getting flu shots, I highly recommend doing it. I went to a Walgreen 1.5 miles from my house, walked in and paid $25, got the shot and was out the door within 10 minutes. Ve...

Pro Poker Player QoD: My Response

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:02:00 -0700

Blair Rodman recently answered a Question of the Day for the LasVegasAdvisor.com Web site. It was a response to someone who inquired whether it would be wise for him or her to move to Vegas to be a professional poker player. The entry is dated Novem...

Another Unconstitutional Law: The PASPA

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:09:00 -0700

There's a Federal law passed in 1992 which in my opinion would never stand up Constitutionally if it were ever challenged in Federal courts. That law is the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA). This was a law that prohibited state...

What'll You Have? Pabst Blue Ribbon!

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:47:00 -0700

A lot of you might not be aware of one of the finest experiences in life and that is drinking a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and you can get it in Vegas! Sure, if you're one of those haut monde types perhaps you'll go get Chimay on tap at Rosemary's on Wes...

Verbal Expressions that I Loathe

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:27:00 -0700

This is by no means an exhaustive or comprehensive list, but these are just a few verbal expressions which send shivers down my spine the way fingernails on a chalkboard do. "Basically..." -- most of the time this term is used it's unneces...

Nevada Gambling Age Should be 18 not 21

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 08:19:00 -0700

There's currently a debate in Nevada about whether we should allow 18-year-olds to gamble in the casinos. Supporters say that it will help our economy to expand our potential customer base. I'm a big proponent of this idea but not because of the econ...

Prediction: Bush Pardons Clemens, Bonds

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:41:00 -0700

Gonna lay myself out on the line with this one. In fact, I got a $100 bet with a friend on it... Before Bush leaves office he will pardon Clemens and Bonds and those two players won't have to worry about perjury charges. I watched the interview wit...

Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) in the News Once Again

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 08:12:00 -0700

It's been two years since the UIGEA was passed. This was a law that significantly impacted my life because I used to sell advertising to Internet gambling sites through LasVegasAdvisor.com and affiliated Web sites. While the law was not implemented ...

Hard Rock Poker Lounge Rocks

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:55:00 -0700

If I were Roger Ebert, it'd be a thumbs up. I really like the Hard Rock's poker room (check that... poker lounge) a great deal. They've made a spacious and comfortable room and hired a friendly and knowledgeable staff. If you're really wondering ...

Luxor New Player Offers

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:32:00 -0700

The Luxor is currently offering the following for new MGM/Mirage player card sign ups at its property: 200 Points = a T-Shirt 1,500 Points = $15 in Free Play 4,000 Points = $40 Food Credit 8,000 Points = $250 Flight Certificate The awards are cu...

Astounding Poker Move I Saw Tonight

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 07:43:00 -0700

I witnessed this hand at a casino poker room tonight. I was not involved in the hand personally. As a spectator, however, my jaw dropped and my eyes just about popped out of my head. The game was 2/5 No-Limit Hold 'Em and there was a straddle to $10...

Professional Poker Players -- a $2,000 (or more) a Month Casino Customer

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:12:00 -0700

In the past, I've played poker games that have a rake where the house takes out a few dollars from each pot. The effect it has on the players is that you effectively pay when you win because the house's take comes out of your winnings. As one m...

Government Bailout Concerns

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:24:00 -0700

Since our Congress and our President have recently signed the $700 billion bailout into law, banks have been applying for the government funds to come their direction and I have some real concerns about what our money is going toward. I realize that ...

More Phillies Bettors Confusion

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:57:00 -0700

According to an article on ESPN.com the MGM/Mirage properties in town didn't follow the standard routine of paying Phillie's bettors on game 5 of the World Series. If you read my previous blog entry you'll see that when there's a rainout it's b...

Phillies Won Last Night -- According to Vegas

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:23:00 -0700

According to Las Vegas rules, bettors who placed moneyline bets on the Phillies in Game 5 won their bets and were able to cash their tickets. Bettors who had placed moneyline wagers on the Tampa Bay Rays conversely lost their bets and have worth...

Becker Gaming Las Vegas Double Royals During MNF

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:23:00 -0700

There are 6 bars in Las Vegas that are on the Becker Gaming player's card system and all 6 are offering double royal flushes during Monday Night Football from kick off until the end of the game, even if it goes to overtime. Currently the best game o...

DelSol Sunglasses -- Lifetime Replacement Guarantee

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:59:00 -0700

I'm someone that has a really tough time holding on to a pair of sunglasses. Either I lose them, sit on them, drop them repeatedly, or otherwise require a replacement pair. I did some searching on the Internet today to research my latest replacement...

PT's Half-Price Wednesdays

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:01:00 -0700

PT's in Vegas started a promotion in September where all drinks and all menu items were half price on Wednesday nights. It proved to be so successful that they continued it through October. I was at one location tonight and inquired if it would conti...

Online Gambling in the News

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:39:00 -0700

Note: If you like what I read, please sign up for my subscriber list so that you can be informed of new postings to the blog. Some recent articles related to online gambling: O.J. Simpson Trial "According to Clark County Circuit Court Judge J...

Vietnamese Pho Soup -- A Delicious and Healing Experience

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:39:00 -0700

Those of you who've read my friend Anthony Curtis' Las Vegas Advisor newsletter or Web site for a while are familiar with his fondness for Vietnamese Pho Tai soup. A few years ago we had lunch together at his favorite Viet restaurant called Pho Vietn...

Post Debate Election Odds

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 14:55:00 -0700

Now that the final debate is over and we're getting closer and closer to election day the betting sites are strongly favoring an Obama win. The current line at BetFair.com is +700 on McCain which translates to an estimated win probability of 12.5% or...

Sports Betting References in Mainstream Culture -- Can You Name the Movie?

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:49:00 -0700

Here are three pictures I took recently of sports betting references that I saw in mainstream culture. The first picture I took in September when I was traveling in Acapulco Mexico. The sign was at a market where you could go to buy anything from fo...

Breaking News in UltimateBet Scandal

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:53:00 -0700

The Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC) has published a press release with further details into their investigation into the hole card cheating scandal on UltimateBet's online poker client that appears to have netted over $6 million. The press release ...

Kentucky Governor Fighting Internet Gambling

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:26:00 -0700

Governor Beshear of Kentucky is taking a stand against Internet gambling in a new way that hasn't been tried before. He is stating that Internet gambling sites like Poker Stars and Full Tilt Poker are illegally operating gambling devices in Kentucky ...

Current Election Odds at Online Betting Sites

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:50:00 -0700

I read political blogs and news sites every day. A few sites that I read through every day are: NYTimes.com -- great election and world news coverage. The NY Times also has an excellent set up for mobile web (on your phone). Whenever you click to vi...

Vegas Football Contests -- Heaven for Some, Hell for Me

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:28:00 -0700

As the NFL season fast approaches, the casinos are advertising their various football contest promotions. Some are free. Some are small stakes like $25 per entry. Some are higher stakes such as $1,000 or higher buy ins. Some focus on college football...

Hard Rock Poker Pictures

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:18:00 -0700

The Hard Rock Poker Lounge is now rockin'. I've stopped by a couple times now but have yet to sit in a game. I'll try one out soon enough. As I mentioned in a previous blog entry, it looks like they'll have some innovative features such as text mess...

Brain Teaser Answer

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:16:00 -0700

A number of people sent me their answers by email. No one appears to have used the comments to reply which is what I had hoped for. Ah well... anyway, I wanted to follow up and not leave all of you hanging. I'll repeat the question and then give the ...

Excalibur Poker Pics and One NYNY

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:02:00 -0700

Just a couple notes, it appears that the Excalibur will reopen their room within a day or two with the new electronic tables. I'll make sure to play them and let you know what I think very soon. Also, this Thursday is the Hard Rock's poker room (the...

CNN on NYC on a Budget

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:32:00 -0700

Just thought this might interest some of you even though it's New York City instead of Vegas. CNN has some recommendations for a NYC visit on a budget. Looks like a decent article:

Big Apple Fun on a Budget.

Helicopter Tour to the Grand Canyon

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:38:00 -0700

Over the weekend we decided to try one of the day excursions via helicopter from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. I did some searching online and found a "special" (might be their price all the time) for $299 a person which included a trip ou...

Excalibur Poker Room Tables to go 100% Electronic

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 14:27:00 -0700

All the poker dealers at the Excalibur have been given 2 weeks notice. They're being replaced by computers. On August 21, the Excalibur is scheduled to open their poker room with 12 electronic PokerPro poker tables which will replace their existin...

Strip Pics at Night

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:24:00 -0700

These aren't beautiful pics by any means, but a couple interesting things I saw a couple nights ago walking the Strip. This is a picture from between the Venetian and the Casino Royale. Can you identify what's missing from this picture? You'd have t...

Ruth's Chris $89 Dinner for Two

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 16:02:00 -0700

Ruth's Chris, which has two locations in Las Vegas, is running a promotion with a special menu for 2 people for $89. This includes a soup or salad for each person, a main course for each person and a dessert to share. This doesn't include drinks...

Excalibur Walkway

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:56:00 -0700

Sorry for the poor quality of the photos. I only had my phone with me for these. This is a sign as you walk from the New York New York over to the Excalibur casino prior to getting to the walkways into the Excalibur. This is a picture of ...

The Book "The Black Swan" and a Brain Teaser

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:08:00 -0700

There's a monthly meeting I attend with other gamblers in town where we discuss certain opportunities in casinos as well as discuss our own experiences gambling and even theoretical problems which may not be so useful in casinos but they're exercise ...

Poker Updates - Station Bad Beat and Hard Rock Info

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:22:00 -0700

Station Casinos The Station poker room bad beat jackpot is now up to $290,000 which is higher than I usually see it. It's normally between $150,000 (its reset point) and $200,000. Right now you have to have quad 5s or better beaten. Every Tuesday t...

StripBurger a Disappointment

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 09:07:00 -0700

My friend, while on her 1 hour lunch break, and I decided to try StripBurger. It's close to her office and I figured a burger joint would be somewhere that would be quick and she could be back to work within an hour. I'm not sure if my assumpt...

Osteria del Circo

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:32:00 -0700

I've passed by this restaurant many times while visiting the Bellagio and always was stunned by the decor from the outside looking in. It really was strikingly different and beautiful. I decided to use some of my MGM Mirage comps to try it out. We...

Michael Jackson in Vegas

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:28:00 -0700

There was a recent article and accompanying photos of Michael Jackson and his children in Las Vegas. I hear that he's living here most of the time now and trying to get a show deal as well. The article is pure showbiz gossip which I try to avoid, bu...

Golden Nugget for $21 a Night Edit:(Actually $42)

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:57:00 -0700

I received an email offer from Continental airlines that looks like anyone can book. It's a $21 a night room rate at the Golden Nugget. I'm sure there are some restrictions, but it'd be worth looking into for some of you. Here's the info: $21 a nig...

DMatthews Dad on PokerStars

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:20:00 -0700

There are three daily tournaments on Poker Stars at 12:40, 7:40 and 10:40 Eastern time that cost 10 FPP points to play and give away a $500 prize pool. Dad's a bit of a low roller. Here's an email I received from him this morning (a guest blog o...

A Couple Weekends at Mandalay Bay

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:59:00 -0700

I've spent the last couple weekends doing activities at the Mandalay Bay casino. Last weekend, I was invited up to a skybox private party to see the boxing matches including the main event of Pacquiao vs. Diaz. The skybox is a distance from the actio...

2X Points at Poker Stars

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:28:00 -0700

PokerStars is currrently offering double points on their cash games and SnG tournaments. This is a good promo as their cash back program is quite good for frequent players. Also, this allows you to move up their tier levels faster. The promo lasts un...

Venetian First Casino in Vegas with Mobile Gaming

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:55:00 -0700

I was recently in the high limit slot salon at the Venetian. I went to play the $5 JoB machines that they have to qualify for a couple promotions. Unfortunately, the machines are gone. If you want to play full-pay Jacks or Better you have to play $25...

Free $100 Slot Play at Station Casinos

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:11:00 -0700

I've noticed that the Station Casinos are also offering a $100 slot rebate for new player signups for its player's club card. The ads say that you're able to retrieve the $100 the very next day which makes it even more attractive than the Harrah's of...

Free $100 in Slot Play at Harrah's

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:57:00 -0700

I noticed a sign at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas that currently offers a free hour of slots up to a $100 loss for new players. When you sign up for the player's card, you then go gamble on a machine. For any losses up to $100, Harrah's will send you a...

First WSOP Prop Bet of 2008

Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:05:00 -0700

I'm writing this to you now because I am no longer in the $1,500 buy-in NLHE event which I entered today. I made it to level 6, about 40 minutes before dinner, but could not continue. My final hand was 55 all in preflop against AK and the board ...

World Series of Poker is Here!

Fri, 30 May 2008 13:42:00 -0700

My favorite time of the year is now upon us. The World Series of Poker begins today and people from all over the country and the world will come to compete in the events and play the side games too. I am playing in the $1,500 buy-in NL Hold 'Em event...

NY Times Discusses Online Sports Betting

Tue, 27 May 2008 11:24:00 -0700

The NY Times ran an article two days ago about the British betting exchange Betfair.com. It's the same site I wrote about a couple months ago when discussing betting on the Presidential primaries and election. The article mentions the scandals that h...

Border Grill at Mandalay Bay

Wed, 21 May 2008 16:42:00 -0700

I spent the weekend at the Mandalay Bay competing in a craps tournament for their invited guests. I didn't have any success in the tournament, but I did make some money doing my requisite gambling (more on that below). One tasty meal I had was at th...

Easy Way to Get 20,000 Continental Miles

Sun, 18 May 2008 18:03:00 -0700

Chase Bank is running a promotion through May 31, 2008 where you can earn 20,000 miles for opening a checking account with $100 or more. 20,000 miles has an equivalent airline ticket purchasing value of $400 I'm told. You open the account with $100 ...

Canceling a Gym Membership

Thu, 15 May 2008 16:03:00 -0700

A new athletic club is opening near my house, and it'll have better facilities and be less expensive than my previous one, so I decided to cancel it. I had been paying $41 a month for the membership. This is how the call went: Rep: "Good aftern...

How to Make $120 in a Few Minutes

Sun, 11 May 2008 19:19:00 -0700

The Kroger company family of grocery stores is offering a 10% bonus when you buy grocery store gift cards. In many places the stores are called Kroger but they have numerous different names. In Las Vegas, they're called Smith's. For a complete list o...

Smoking: How Times Have Changed

Thu, 08 May 2008 19:44:00 -0700

I found this interesting blog page that contains old smoking television ads. The page includes an I Love Lucy ad for Phillip Morris containing the requisite 12-year-old boy singing a Phillip Morris ditty. (Isn't that sweet?) Also, on the page yo...

Nevada Governor Gibbons Living in a Budget Suites

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:10:00 -0700

Actually, I don't know where he's living, but he's not living in the Nevada governor's mansion ... at least, according to this article he's not. With the governor of the state not being able to live in the state mansion, this has to be one of t...

Bizarre Chance to Make Some Money if You're Unemployed

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:54:00 -0700

If you can somehow afford to not work for 3 months straight and feel like being a NASA guinea pig, they are offering $17,000 to people to spend 90 days in bed. All you have to do is spend 90 days straight in bed as part of their study and they'll giv...

Updates on Previous Blogs: Payard and Sedona

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:25:00 -0700

In the all-good-things-must-come-to-an-end category, the Payard breakfast that I reviewed in April has raised its price from $16 to $22. It's still a great breakfast, but now it's not as great of a value. Rising food prices are probably forcing this ...

A Couple Vegas Pics

Sun, 04 May 2008 09:41:00 -0700

Here's an ad for the Cafe Martorano. I took this picture at the walkway from the Strip to the Caesars sports book. I originally saw this same ad in a Rio hotel elevator. My question is this... would you be more likely or less likely to visit this ...

MGM Mirage Tightens Up on VP Play

Sat, 03 May 2008 15:21:00 -0700

MGM Mirage just made a significant change to their point system, They now give you one point for $4.50 coin in on video poker where they had previously given you a point for $3.00 coin in. This changes the free play from .33% back to .22%. Slot play ...

Tipping at Poker Tourneys

Fri, 02 May 2008 08:48:00 -0700

Caesars' poker room just completed a WSOP circuit event that was a sizable $5,000 + $150 buy-in, with the $150 going to the house to pay for dealers, overhead, and yes, go to Harrah's profit as well. Larger-than-life tournament pro Allen Cunningham ...

Little Play at the Lodge at Haulapai

Fri, 02 May 2008 07:29:00 -0700

This isn't going to be helpful to most people because it's at a small bar far West from the Strip (about 10 miles) and also because it's at very odd hours, but it's a good offer nonetheless of you can make it. The Lodge at Haulapai gives you $20...

Mesa Grill at Caesars

Thu, 01 May 2008 08:54:00 -0700

I must have walked by this restaurant 100 times in going to the Caesars sports book and the poker room. I had never eaten there as I just figured it was another Mexican restaurant in Vegas and the prices seemed pretty high. I didn't know what I was m...

Free Ice Cream Day & The GG 99-cent Shrimp

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:49:00 -0700

No... I don't expect you to want to eat a Golden Gate shrimp cocktail and a scoop of ice cream at the same time. That doesn't sound particularly appetizing. If you wanted to though, you could do both for a total of 99 cents. I was reading one of my ...

Bellagio Conservatory

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 08:14:00 -0700

One of my favorite places in Vegas is the conservatory at the Bellagio. It's really amazing what they do season after season with the different displays. I took a few pics to share with you of the current exhibit. I was pleased to see that they had ...

$20k Royal. Yahoo.

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 07:24:00 -0700

I hit a $20k royal two nights ago... I thought you all might like a pic.

Wynn Buffet Excels, but Is Pricey

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 04:53:00 -0700

Another day, another comped meal. This time it was the elaborate Wynn buffet for an early 5:30 PM dinner. We stopped by the player's club booth to get our comps activated. They reviewed our slot play and determined we were eligible for two free...

I. Nelson Rose Speaks Out on the Candidates

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 01:31:00 -0700

I. Nelson Rose is likely the foremost authority on the legal aspects of gambling legislation. He has numerous books on gambling including Blackjack and the Law, Gambling and the Law, and Internet Gaming Law. He's a Harvard Law School graduate as well...

Primm Valley Golf Club Excursion

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:31:00 -0700

I'm not a good person to write a review of a golf course. In fact, there are probably few worse than I. The reason for that is I recently played golf for the first time in 13 years since playing with a $3 rented set of clubs on a $5 18-hole course on...

WSOP to Change Main Event Final Table Format?

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:24:00 -0700

According to the blog Pokerati.com, the WSOP is either considering, or has already made, a change to the way the final table of the World Series of Poker Main Event will be played. Their idea is to play down to 9 players and then stop for 3 months. ...

Jeff Haney Gets Jobbed at Harrah's Sports Book

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 17:26:00 -0700

Since the good information is in the article, I'll just provide a link and you can read it on your own. The practice of taking tickets out of someone's hand and then canceling the tickets when the bets were placed at the current posted line and with...

Hogs and Heifers Saloon Las Vegas

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:50:00 -0700

A poker player friend of mine received an invitation to a Doyle Brunson event at the Hogs & Heifers Saloon in downtown Las Vegas and I decided to tag along. Glad I did! This is a biker bar that I accidentally wandered into on...

Adopt a Rescue Pet Las Vegas

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 18:41:00 -0700

Back in October of last year we adopted Flocki from a group in Las Vegas called Adopt a Rescue Pet. They're a super organization that finds dogs that are on the kill list at the local shelters and adopts them before they can be euthanized. They then ...

Sweet Breakfast at Caesars

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:09:00 -0700

Since I spend many graveyard shifts at the Caesars poker room, someone suggested to me that I try the continental breakfast at Payard Patisserie. What a fantastic breakfast this was! It opens at 6:30 in the morning. The continental breakfast costs...

Free Eats for 25-Cent Video Poker Players

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:08:00 -0700

There's a group of restaurants in Las Vegas that offers an excellent value for 25-cent video poker play. It's a trio of restaurants called Kennedy, Al's Garage, and Sedona. Al's and Kennedy are located in the District at Green Valley Ranch while Sedo...

More Entries Coming

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:32:00 -0700

I participated in a blackjack tournament over the weekend and have been working on taxes, being the last-minute guy that I am. Will be back shortly with blackjack tournament info, along with a review of Payard Patisserie at Caesars, Primm V...