See that fancy-schmancy vision of an upgraded MGM Empire City? Well, it ain’t happening. In the shocker of the year, MGM Resorts International yanked its New York City casino bid from consideration yesterday. What the company said was less interesting than what it didn’t say: It’s essentially pulling the plug on casino operations in the Big Apple altogether.
Continue reading Shocker from MGM
I’ve written recently about retiring from gambling when the new IRS rules for gambling become effective on January 1, 2026. While I’m a senior citizen and retirement is what many people my age dream about, that doesn’t sound very attractive to me. I’ve always taken great pleasure in using my brain and figuring things out. So, what am I to do?
My current best guess is that I’ll write my second autobiography, tentatively entitled Million Dollar Video Poker — The Next 25 Years. The story from my original Million Dollar Video Poker ended in 2001, with me getting kicked out of MGM Grand and Venetian after having a lucky six-month period when I netted more than $1 million.
In 2001, I had my 54th birthday and was still in my prime gambling-wise. While there is no doubt that gambling at video poker was much more lucrative in the 1990s than it has been since, I have still found numerous opportunities every year since then, and have made more money from gambling after 2001 than I made up to that point.
Most of the opportunities I found are no longer around. Do players really want to learn about this history? Do they want to know what kind of mistakes casinos were making in 2004 and 2015 and 2023? I think yes. While there are an infinite number of ways for promotions to be structured, the same types of mistakes by casino marketing people keep happening over and over again. At a minimum, the book will give players examples that just might be relevant down the road.
Good games remain today. After the pandemic. I had good years along with an expensive 2024 — but they added up to more than a half-million dollars net win for me. Some of the games I profited from are gone, but many remain.
I think, though, that the most useful thing I can write about is how I attacked whatever came along. The actual solutions I came up with may not be relevant in a changed environment, but the approach I used to come up with those solutions is still relevant.
Would Anthony Curtis publish this book? Probably. Depending on how good it is. And part of his role as a publisher is to help make the book better. If the first draft weren’t quite good enough, that wouldn’t necessarily be a showstopper.
Part of the problem is my memory isn’t as good today as it was during my first book. And the events I would describe would be 20 years ago, whereas most of the action in MDVP was from two or three years prior to when I wrote about it. We may have to include a disclaimer like what is found at the front of many movies, “Based on a true story.”
Another problem is that some of the juicy promotions are still going on today, and writing about them and how to beat them would be tantamount to killing the deal. That’s probably not a showstopper because it’ll take three or four years to work through the Huntington Press queue, and by that time the promotions would be killed off by others.
Before announcing this project, I wanted to be certain I could see it through. So, beginning in August of this year, I began drafting several chapters for the new book and also making a list of things I wanted to talk about that I haven’t written yet. While it is nowhere near completed, perhaps the first draft of 20% of the final book has been finished. I’m convinced it’s a worthwhile project and I can keep going.
Got an excellent reader tip about still using Golden Gate matchplay chips.
(BTW, if you send a tip I use to [email protected], I’ll send you a Bobby Vegas T-shirt (“fweeee!”).
LVA’s QOD established you can exchange Golden Gate table-game chips at the D or Circa. Meanwhile, Circa, Golden Gate, and the D give out non-expiring matchplay chips, (way better than expiring 24-hour paper coupons). You may have received some using your LVA MRB matchplay coupons for Golden Gate and the D.
My bud was able to exchange his Golden Gate matchplay chips That’s a 2-for-1 payout on a 50/50 bet. Sweet.
The lesson here, as Jean Scott used to say, is honey attracts more bees than vinegar, so it never hurts to ask and be nice!
Oh — and a late-breaking bulletin. Thanks to Matchplay Bob, who clarified he had a Golden Gate players club manager sign his Golden Gate MRB matchplay coupon and it was accepted at Circa. So take your unused GG MRB matchplay coupon, have someone at GG sign it, and it “should” be accepted at Circa for their matchplay chip.
I didn’t double check the other two matchplay “show your Southwest ticket” at the D or Circa before posting, but I believe both are still active. Anyone?
Here’s one more Bobby V downtown-scuffler special.
I’m not a fan of Garage Mahal at Circa — parking fees and it’s inconvenient. If I’m going to Circa’s sports book or to use my LVA MRB free champagne coupon at Circa’s fabulous rooftop Legacy Club or to play or eat at the Plaza, I valet park at Golden Gate’s tiny lot.
“Checking in or will you be long?”
“Maybe an hour.”
Be a George and give the valet a few dollars *up front* and a few when you pick up*.
And be cool. Go INTO the Golden Gate. Going to the Plaza or Circa? Go out through the front of GG.
Hey.. I just had a why-I-love-downtown Vegas revelation (“Praise full pay VP and pass the cash!”) over the Strip. I don’t like crowds reminding me of midtown Manhattan on New Year’s Eve, bad games and overpriced … well … everything. Downtown is more personal, on more of a human scale. I like that experience, that connection. Why?
“I’m special!”
Plus, better games, rock n roll on every corner, and a meal that doesn’t require you to pawn your jewelry all fill the bill quite nicely.
Growing up, I was more a pinball-at-the-bowling-alley grab-a-deli-“sammich” and go-to-the-state-fair-midway kinda guy. So sue me.
Speaking of pinball, granted it’s wayyy down past the South Strip near the “Bobby Vegas” (oh wait — that change hasn’t happened … yet) “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, but you can have some vintage fun for spare change at the Pinball Hall of Fame.
Then head on down to South Point for a super selection of full-pay VP, very affordable LIVE table games, and a decent buffet and nobody’s charging you for parking at all three!
I’m old school. Sue me. Again. My kind of Vegas.
Having been run from pillar to post at Global Gaming Expo all week, we’re still in recovery. Ergo, we turn the bulk of this installment over to our Atlantic CIty bureau. What follows are a pair of letters sent to (but unlikely to be printed in) The Press of Atlantic City. Please enjoy them.
Continue reading Letters to Atlantic City
This week Anthony and Andrew give you the Vegas monthly update.
I’ve written a few times that starting January 1, 2026, the tax law will be changed drastically for professional gamblers — especially those who get W-2Gs or have a significant paper trail, such as those who bet big amounts in sportsbooks or play in large casino tournaments of any kind.
Blackjack players and poker players who don’t play in tournaments have largely been on the “honor system” to report their wins and losses. These players can apply a “fudge factor” to their scores and generally be all right, despite the new tax law.
I’m neither suggesting nor condoning they do this, nor am I happy with the fact that they can do this to their taxes and I can’t, but I’m sure it will be done in several cases.
Players who receive W-2Gs and the casinos which send this information to the IRS are hard pressed to find a way around the extra tax. While the IRS threshold for issuing a W-2G is said to be increasing from $1,200 to $2,500 or some other number, and maybe 1099s also (nobody is too sure), these will have a minor effect. A large percentage of W-2Gs are for bigger amounts.
If you’re a big sports bettor with one of the major U.S. books, each sportsbook can report your wins and losses there to the IRS. Whether they will or not, I’m not too sure. My sports betting is very “small time,” and I don’t know how these books treat their bigger customers.
I, for one, announced a few months ago that I will quit gambling on January 1, 2026. Nothing has changed in the meantime to make me change my mind. How many other players will quit, or at least cut back drastically, is an open question. I have no way to estimate how much business in high limit slot rooms will evaporate, but I believe it will be a significant percentage.
There will be players who don’t know about the new law, or don’t think it will apply to them, or basically don’t care. While the profit motive is a major reason I gamble, and when the profit disappears, I disappear, many gamblers don’t care all that much about that. They want to win, but expect to lose, and if it turns out to be an extra $250,000 lost, well that’s too bad. No big for them, perhaps, but it would be for me and most others.
Some though, will put up with the extra loss for one year, and decide they can’t do it anymore, and by calendar 2027, the high limit slot rooms will be largely empty. We’ll see.
I expect casinos to come up with dollar video poker games where the royal flush returns $2,495. We’ve seen “tax free” quarter royals for $1,199, for the same purpose. Or maybe $5 games requiring three or four coins. You still get a W-2G for a royal, but you won’t for most 4-of-a-kinds.
If casinos lose a lot of their high limit slot revenue, you can assume they will tighten up pay schedules and promotions to make up for it. What they’ll actually do is unknown. But my prediction is that most readers of my writings will not like it.
This week Anthony and Andrew sit down with professional sports bettor Bill Krackomberger.
At least three years ago, we had a review in the hopper for BG Bistro on Tropicana. Good salads, stuffed mushrooms, fish, and especially lamb chops. Then it moved to 4435 S. Buffalo and changed its name to Beso.
The cuisine is now described as “Mediterranean and Eastern European,” but the root nationality is Bulgarian. The selection is vast, including dishes such as cevapi (beef and pork in bread), mititei (sausage), and uviatch (stuffed pork). We haven’t tried them. These we have: blue cheese mushrooms ($15), chicken livers ($14), arugula salad ($14), and branzino ($35). Excellent. The salad selection is one of the best we’ve seen. Along with the arugula are Greek, shopska, and vitamin salad—beets, carrots, apple, and walnuts in a honey citrus dressing—among others, all $13-$17. The lamb chops are served with potatoes and vegetables for $28; you won’t find them this good at this price in many, if any, places.
We can’t list everything on the menu; check it out here.
Then there are daily white-paper specials, off of which we got this lamb shank for $14.
This is new. It starts at 8 a.m. and it’s a good option for a weekend brunch. We had a veggie omelet, salmon Benedict, and ham & cheese crepe. The whole thing came out to $53 and we took the crepes home.
While BG Bistro was kinda down and dirty, with Eastern European expats hanging out at the patio tables, Beso is more refined. You can sit at the bar and start a conversation or get a table of your own. It’s comfortable.
This is a good restaurant with a lot of food choices. And as you can see from the examples or by clicking through to the menu, it’s very well priced. You have to travel about seven miles west from the Strip, but if you’re looking for something different and reasonable, this fills the bill. Did we mention those lamb chops?
As Ellis Island moves closer to the conclusion of its expansion disruption, it continues to hatch new deals, including daily specials for $10.99 and graveyard specials for $4.99-$8.99. Most intriguing to us is a 24/7 burger & fries for $5.99. This is the Station Casinos deal that’s in the Top Ten. How do they match up?
The EI burger is outstanding, probably closer to a half-pound than a quarter. Dress it up with lettuce, tomato, pickle, and whatever additional condiments you want that are right there on the table. It comes with a heap of fries. Big meal.
Since there were two of us, one tried the steak special that we’ve been getting a few complaints about. Here it is, and the photo doesn’t include the salad that comes with it. The steak was perfectly cooked and our carnivore traded his fries for our vegetarian’s steak. What could be better?
So which is better, EI or SC? We really do like the Station burger, but Ellis Island’s is better. Why, then, does Station remain in the Top Ten? The main reason is availability. Both are 24/7, but you can get the Station burger at several different places. And it’s a small point, but Station’s is a cheeseburger and cheese is a $1.25 upcharge at Ellis.
As for that steak special, we agree that you can get a better steak in SW at the Wynn. But you can get 10 steaks at Ellis Island, with the sides, for the same price? Sorry, but we’re discounting the dissenters on this one.
Ellis Island continues to rock. The bill for both meals was $17.32.
I wish I knew more about the promotion I’m writing about today, but I’ll share what I have surmised.
For the past several months, some Caesars Rewards properties have offered Next Day Bounceback (NDB). At these properties, if you play at least a minimum amount during a casino day (often 6 a.m. to 5:59 a.m. — but it varies), you get a certain amount of free play added to your account at approximately noon. The exact time can vary from casino to casino.
The percentage return can vary as well. I’ve seen it from 0.1% to 0.75%, depending on the casino. Some “expert” players get a lesser amount. At many of these casinos, the percentage amount returned is less today than it was six months ago.
Sometimes these casinos offer a multiplier to their NDB. At least one of the casinos offers a multiple NDB reward once a week (or sometimes once every other week). It’s at least 2x, and usually 2x, but sometimes more. You don’t learn if you received a 2x, 3x, or other multiplier until after the promotion is over. Another casino awards a 20x NDB multiplier weekly for two hours — but video poker is excluded from this promotion. There are daily limits for the amount of NDB you can earn — but this is only relevant for the biggest of high rollers. Well over 99% of all players won’t come close to earning the limit.
Usually, the casino won’t tell you what the percentage return is on the NDB promotion, so you have to figure it out yourself. Or ask a knowledgeable friend.
To figure it out, you need to know how much money you received, and how much coin-in you played to earn that money. For example, let’s assume you played 500 Tier Credits (TCs) at video poker and received $20 in NDB. What percentage is that?
On most video poker machines at these properties, it requires $10 coin-in to earn one TC, so 500 TCs mean you played $5,000 through the machine. Your percentage return is $20 / $5,000 = 0.004 = 0.4%.
At some of these casinos, it takes $20 or $25 to earn a TC on the loosest video poker machines. In these cases, 500 TCs mean you played $10,000 or $12,500, respectively. The percentage return becomes 0.2% or 0.16%, respectively.
Slot players at these casinos typically earn one TC for $5 coin-in, so if you’re a slot player, the return, in this case, is 0.8%.
The percentage you’ve received before does not have to be the percentage you’re going to receive today. While the percentage rate could go up, I suppose, I’ve only seen it stay the same or go down.
While NDB becomes available at noon, it needs to be downloaded into your bank within a certain number of days (which varies by casino) and once it’s in your bank it’s good for 72 hours (or some other period of time). The Caesars Rewards booth at the particular casino you’re interested in will likely tell you these lengths of time.
At one out-of-town casino I frequent, NDB used to be good for 90 days after earning it, but now it is only good for 30 days. If I have to leave for my flight home before noon on my last day, this might mean I don’t play on the next-to-last day. That’ll be the day for sightseeing. If I leave for my flight after noon, I probably won’t play between 6 a.m. and when I leave because if I did, I would forfeit any NDB I earned. If I were a local, I wouldn’t worry about this because I know I’ll be back before my NDB expires.
On the last day of my stay, it could be that a promotion is in effect that dwarfs whatever I could earn from NDB, so I’ll keep playing after 6 a.m. even though I know that I won’t be able to collect the NDB (assuming I’m not planning on returning to this casino within the requisite time period.)
The expiration period for multiple NDB days does not have to be the same as the regular 1x NDB days. In fact, it usually isn’t.
For most players, they’ll learn to stay until after noon on their last day in order to collect their extra money. This means they might stay longer than they used to. For most players, NDB means they’ll lose less money because of this “rebate,” although many will simply play more and it’ll all come out about the same.
These casinos have multiple promotions and NDB is just one of them. Often, you’ll have multiplier days for TCs or Reward Credits (RCs), which are different. Sometimes if you play a certain number of TCs you get extra benefits. Sometimes you earn benefits that are hard to quantify (such as 100x drawing tickets). These casinos have monthly mailers and for big-enough players, they’ll receive a certain amount of free play based on how much they played.
As best I can, I try to add up the value of the benefits with the return of the video poker machine I’m playing. Sometimes I can get it pretty precise. Sometimes it’s sort of a scientific wild-assed guess based on the best information I have.
When I play slots, it’s hard to get the precise percentage return. I might know that it’s positive-equity to play a certain machine when the mini meter is above 22 or the minor meter is above 30, but if I find a machine when these numbers are at 21 and 29, I assume I have the advantage but I’m unsure how much. While both numbers are slightly below being positive in and of themselves, the combination is surely a good one to play.
Also. when I play slots, I usually only play when one-or-more meters is above a certain level. When it’s no longer that high, I move on and try to find another game in a positive state. On each machine I check, it could be there are 50 different amounts to check, ranging perhaps from 50 cents to 50 dollars. Any of these could be positive and I won’t know before I go check which one(s) will be that way. In video poker, on the other hand, I’m usually playing one particular machine and I know going in what denomination I’ll be playing and the return on the game.
I don’t know how much longer NDB will last. The fact that the return rates have been decreasing leads me to conclude that they will be down to zero in the relatively near future — at least at some of these properties— but I could be wrong.
When the new tax law kicks in on January, if enough players quit or cut back, these casinos might increase NDB in order to lure players back. For me this won’t work, but it might for some other players.
