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Learning a new word, from someone who responded to my sadness about not being able to hug my little great-grands during this pandemic.  He said I am missing “oxytocin.”  Yes, I can’t wait until I can satisfy this “cuddle hormone.”

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Many readers have commented about the Blackjack Ball that I wrote about in an earlier blog.    I think there is perhaps a growing interest in blackjack, particularly among players who in the past had concentrated their casino action to VP. For one reason, this stay-at-home period has given them the extra time they knew they needed to study a new game. And another reason is that many fear that video poker conditions, which had already been deteriorating fast before the shut-down, might become even worse when casinos open again.  They want more options.  In that blog I gave a list of links to writings about the Blackjack Ball.  Here are a couple more recent and very detailed ones by Henry Tamburin – Part 1 and Part 2.

One caution here: This Corona shutdown, no matter how long it lasts, will not be enough time to become a “blackjack expert.”  The learning curve for any gambling game is steep and long. It is not just learning the rules and strategy.  It isn’t even just practicing for hours or even days on software programs.  That is all good but it also requires in-person experience – lots of it.  For someone who is just starting out on the BJ path – or any other game path for that matter – the best you can expect when the casinos reopen is to lose a little less money than you would have if you never studied.  And for the recreational gambler that is a worthy goal.

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Every once in awhile a newbie would ask me whether Brad and I gambled smart when we first started visiting Vegas.  That first visit was in 1984.  Just last month we reached the 36-year milestone.  I would point them to a blog I wrote 6 years ago about that first visit.

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A few people have been asking what happened to my queenofcomps.com website. It was run by someone else since I am not technically savvy enough to handle such a thing.  It served a good purpose for many years, but needed a major update.  So, it was decided to have visitors to that site re-directed here to the LVA website.  Much of the information there was updated and you can now find it by just looking above this blog and you will be able to click on a couple of new tabs.  The “About Jean Scott” one is a bio with info that has been accumulating for many years  – and I added needed up-to-date details.  Click on the next new tab and you will find links to articles that often reveal unfamiliar details of our frugal gambling life.  You will also find a list of  websites and resources that can help you achieve better gambling results.  I plan to keep these pages up to date as things change, probably majorly when the casinos reopen.

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And now for a recent comment here on my blog.  I often get a smile from many of the comments you all write.  But this one made Brad and me laugh for hours.

It is with the greatest respect I write this…
I’ve told endless numbers of gamblers about your book The Frugal Gambler. It changed the way I play and I have so enjoyed your informative comments. Thanks again.

But, I write this to let you know that I predicted this would happen……..if you and Brad ever left Vegas the entire place would shut down!

For years I have talked about balance in one’s life, particularly for regular casino gamblers, which we were for many years before we recently retired.  I always reminded people that there is a danger if your gambling negatively affects the other parts of your life or makes you self-centered and uncaring for those around you.  I wrote how Brad and I down through the years, until we had to deal with failing health concerns, were active in volunteer activities.  And maybe some of you got tired of hearing me talk about our children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  But our family was always our first priority – and we wrapped family activities into our casino activities constantly.

So now, I was wondering what I should write in this blog.  Some would say that with the seriousness of this pandemic people shouldn’t be thinking about gambling at all, that they should be concerned about serious medical subjects.  But I go back to my belief in balance in life.  You are heeding the advice to stay at home, but that does not mean you need to just sit around worrying.  That is not good for your mental health.  The TV is sending out tons of information about how to keep yourself and your family occupied.

Each person has special interests that can keep them from dwelling on the negative.  For some of you, reading about gambling subjects can be your way of coping with this crisis.  So that is why I will try to keep writing this blog.

We need to keep the faith that life will eventually go back to “normal,” although it may be a “new normal.”  If you were a VP player and casino visits were an important part of your life before, then I see no problem with you doing things that will help you be a smarter gambler when they re-open – whenever in the near or distant future that will be.

We have no idea what casinos will be like for the VP player when they re-open.  Some of the extreme tactics they used during the last recession seemed to hang on, like downgrading VP paytables and cutting comps.  That may happen again – but on the other hand, they may need to make some positive changes to get players back.

I predict that they will need to run more and stronger promotions.  With that in mind, now might be a good time to expand your skills.  Learn a new VP game.  Maybe you said you were sticking to Jacks or Better because that was the only game for which you knew the strategy.  Get a software training program and learn NSUD (Not-So-Ugly-Deuces) which was probably the most common “good game” when the casinos closed.

Here are some of the other ideas you might consider:  You may get out those gambling books you have in your personal library – some you never read or some you may decide to re-read to refresh your memory.  You may want to order some new titles.  Here on this website many of them are available at a discounted price.  If you are a newbie VP player, you might want to go back and read some of my blogs of the last couple of years since I have been covering the changing VP scene.

There is another resource I want to suggest, for all skill levels and all games – “Casino City Times.”  They have a ton of information on their site, much from old files, but there is also up-to-date writing, by many of the experts in the gambling field.  I especially recommend the writings of John Robison, who covers both slots and VP as he relates many of his own gambling experiences.   A very good up-to-the-minute article, covering some of the same things I am discussing in this blog for gamblers to do, is by Gary Trask.

Social distancing doesn’t mean social isolation.  We can still reach out to each other virtually if not physically.  Feel free to use the “Comments” below to share:  your fears, your hopes, your desire to stay connected.

Yes, we did move to Columbus, GA, in early January. But we did make a quick trip back to our old Vegas stomping grounds last week. The main reason was to attend the 24^th annual Blackjack Ball, to which we were invited as special guests.  Actually, we had attended this gathering of gamblers back in the late nineties, at the first 3 of these. But as we were switching from BJ to video poker as our primary game, this annual event was growing so large that the guest list had to be limited mainly to active BJ players.  Although BJ is still the main “glue” of this get-together, many of those early expert players have retired or moved into or added other areas, like the stock market or cryptocurrency.  And many have added new casino games, like VP or live poker, or look for good tournament plays in any game besides blackjack.  And many players have also contributed to gambling education in the media, writing articles and books about BJ and other casino games.  This is category in which I fit.

I will write more in future blogs about this Blackjack Ball and the rest of our activities in this 4-day stay in Las Vegas. I will probably surprise you with details about how much we played and what games we chose.  I probably won’t surprise you with the details of our couponing and “burning comps.”

But right now I want to give you details about a promotion that is time-sensitive.  Being among so many top-notch big-time successful gamblers at the BJ Ball once again emphasized to me how important it is to diversify your gambling choices, especially in this time of dwindling good opportunities.  The big-money players are doing it – many are flying all over country – and some all over the world – to find advantage plays.  And many wise “little” players are doing it also, albeit on a smaller scale.

So, I came across this up-coming BJ promotion at the Rampart Casino in Vegas that might interest some VP players who might want to step into  and perhaps add the game of blackjack.  And it is also another example that shows how important it is to check many resources.  I got this information from Scot Krause’s Vegas Values.  This is a weekly report that every Sunday gives you details on the best Las Vegas casino deals.

Rampart: National Blackjack Day March 2nd.

This fun day was created to bring attention to one of the most popular casino games – Blackjack. The day brings attention to not only the game, but the declining number of casinos who still offer a 3:2 payout – hence the day falling on March 2nd (3/2)! Guests can join the team at Rampart Casino who will be offering the following to celebrate National Blackjack Day:

Free Blackjack lessons throughout the day: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., Noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.

The casino bars will boast the Jack in Black cocktail for $3.20 – a mix of Jack Daniels Old No. 7, coffee liqueur, and cola.

Clubhouse Deli will feature the Double Down Burger for $9.99 featuring two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, and pickles on a toasted sesame seed bun. Served with French fries and a soft drink.

The 2020 Blackjack Bonus throughout the day (beginning at 10 a.m.), will reward any Blackjack player that hits a $10 Suited Blackjack (minimum $10 bet), a bonus $20 free bet. (Must be a Rampart Rewards club member.)

Here is a picture of Brad being transferred from the military hospital at Fort Benning to a civilian one in Columbus, the latter one having a better cardiac department.

Brad is still a little weak, but with strong meds kicking in and the help of a walker (and a wheelchair which is complimentary at the casino), he feels he is up to a short 4 ½-hour road trip from Columbus, GA to Harrah’s Cherokee, with Angela and me and tough ex-Ranger Steve as his “nursing assistants.”

This trip is my Harrah’s 7* retreat that we had to cancel for last weekend.  So, for those of you on property this weekend who might want to stop and chat, we will be on the casino floor or at the buffet or the Laurel Lounge (Formerly called the Diamond Lounge) on this Friday evening (20^th), off and on all day Saturday, and Sunday until early afternoon when we will be driving back to Columbus.

I don’t want to clutter up this blog with personal details but if you want to follow more of our “real life,” as opposed to our casino one, you can join us on my Jean Scott Facebook page for updated news.  I’ll be happy to friend you if you are not there already.

Now for some details for those who don’t know much about this beautiful Indian casino, managed by Harrah’s.  We have visited here once or twice a year for many years.  In my opinion it is located in one of the prettiest areas of the U.S, the Smoky Mountains.  (Tied with Lake Tahoe at the top of our casino favorites.) We especially like to visit in the fall to see the leaf-changing spectacular – something we miss in Las Vegas.  And it is always a good place to take the family, with many non-gambling options, like sightseeing, hiking, and fishing.  It also has our very favorite casino buffet, bar none.

Cherokee has many advantages for those in the Harrah’s 7* players club tier.  Unlimited comped movies.  Free Internet access for 5 devices.  Large selection of free beverages at check-in.  Opt out of daily housekeeping and get $20 free play per night stay.  A special set-aside room in the Laurel Lounge, with additional food selections.  And very valuable, you can get cash instead of free play when you cash in your Reward Credits.  If you are on your 7* retreat, you can use your $500 folio money in the many shops, not just for food and beverage.

A friend recently sent me this good hint, one which I didn’t know:

You can use Celebration “vouchers” for room service.  Before we used ours, I checked at the Rewards Center and was told that I could use the voucher for room service, but I needed to tell the room service people when I placed our order.  I did and it worked perfectly.

Perhaps this will work at other CZR properties?  You could check.

If you want more hints about this property and extra benefits, go to the Seven Star Insider,  where you will find tons of very detailed information about Cherokee and all other CZR properties.  Although this website zeroes in on 7* benefits, there is much information that would help lower-tier players maximize the value of their play.

The main drawback for many VP players is that there are not good paytables at the lower denominations.  The best ones are at the $5 machines.

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If Brad continues to gain his strength back, we plan to return to Vegas on September 28th – and I can be back here with more Las Vegas casino frugal information.

Recently I heard from one reader who told about a good June promotion at the Vegas downtown Four Queens Casino.  Unfortunately, they don’t put details of their promos on their website, but you could have found them if you had regularly checked this Vegas Values one I highly recommend.   The Four Queens is not a fancy place, but a top choice if you are looking for reasonable room rates, with NO resort fee; some good restaurants, including the classic Hugo’s Cellar; a nice selection of good VP; and free parking for hotel guests and free validation parking for players and restaurant customers.  Here at the LVA website, it is one of their TOP TEN bargains – and very high on my frugal list.

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Q:  Jean, have you taken advantage of the Atlantis Resort trip that Caesars offers to customers in their 3 top tiers.  I hear things are pretty expensive down in the Bahamas.

A:  Brad and I haven’t done this trip and all I know about it is from the Caesars website.   But I did hear from a reader who was looking for frugal hints.

The most common tip I hear is to find a cab from a good company and pick up lots of groceries on the ride from the airport to store in the fridge. I also saw some tips on how to cook on the room iron, but I don’t think we will go that far…

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Q:  I’d like to get to the higher tier levels at Stations Casinos, like President or even Chairman, but I am losing too much money playing at the higher-level machines to get more points faster.  Any suggestions?

A:  I strongly discourage playing beyond your bankroll or comfort level just to achieve a higher tier level.  In almost all cases it would be cheaper to just pay for those higher-level benefits.  However, during your normal play you could choose to play on multiple-point days.  These extra points don’t up your tier score (which is based on “base” points) but you can redeem them for cash or free play which will cover some of your losses.  And here is one player suggestion on how to get to the higher tiers faster and have a vacation at the same time:

Your spending on rooms at Stations are 50X, cocktails at bars 30X, food at restaurants ranges between 10X at the cafe/buffet and 20X at steakhouses. That can add up fast. So, for every $100 you spend on rooms you earn 5000 base points. A nice $100 steak dinner, 3000 base points. That can get you to President quickly without putting a single dime in a machine. Use a staycation to boost your points and get some well-deserved rest.

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Q:  Hi, as an out of towner coming to Vegas in July/Aug, I was wondering what newspaper and day I would look to see if there were any Boyd dining coupons that you mentioned for that time. Thanks.

A:  There is now only one newspaper in town – since The Sun is now a section in the Review-Journal.  But I can’t answer your 2^nd question, since coupons flyers are slipped into the newspaper on no regular schedule.  In fact, I can’t count on checking casino ads on any particular day.  Most often they are in the front section of the newspaper on Sundays, particularly early in the month, but I never can depend on that.  And, as I have mentioned before, sometimes an ad with a new promotion will pop up mid-month!

If you want casino coupons, your best bet is to subscribe to the “Las Vegas Advisor” here at my blog home and you will get a whole book of coupons free.  You can also buy the American Casino Guide which has 182 coupons for casinos all over the U.S, including over 100 for Vegas.

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Not a question, but a comment.  A couple blogs ago I mentioned a July 4^th promotion coming up at South Point.  I had given the details (which are still correct) but stated these differed from past multiple-point days.  Scot Krause, who is always on the ball about promotions, said this one had always had the same details.  I think my 80-year-old brain may be getting a little tired!!!! 

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I hope readers here regularly go to another part of my blog home – the popular QOD (“Question of the Day”).  That’s another place to get your burning questions answered – and sometimes the QOD guru asks for my input. As sometimes happens with all casino information, there are a lot of details and, in trying to summarize in a brief manner, we might miss some of them that would make the answer more complete.  That happened in a recent answer to a question about “crazy VP paytables.”  We mentioned my “Frugal Video Poker Scouting Guide” as a great resource to find the EV of almost 200 of the most common VP paytables.  I – and many other knowledgeable students of the game – won’t ever go to a casino without this small booklet in a purse or pocket.  But it should be mentioned that this booklet is not the only resource you need.  You might occasionally run into an unusual or rare “crazy” schedule that doesn’t appear in the “Scouting Guide.”  Then you need a second important resource – a software program that allows you to modify paytables AND, very importantly, provides a strategy chart so you can play any schedule accurately.

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Down through the years I have tried to answer all of the questions players ask me, whether these questions are posed in the “Comments” at the end of each blog, in private e-mails, or in person.  Sometimes my answers will come to you in an individual e-mail or on an Internet forum.  And occasionally you will find answers in the QOD or in a blog like today’s!

I am sometimes asked if we ever play blackjack or any other casino game besides VP these days. We rarely do, but you might see us at a blackjack table for just some recreational play on a cruise ship that has no good VP.   We occasionally hit some slots when we are entertaining our family in a casino.   And, no surprise, we might play any other casino game if we have a coupon for it.   (This is why I put a chapter called “The Casino-Game Buffet” in my recent book The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide. I cover most any table game you might find, giving you suggestions on how to play it with a better chance for financial success.)

I do read a lot about gambling, especially online, since I like to keep up on all the changes in the casino world, not just those that affect our video poker play.

A Resource for Vegas Table Players

Recently I came across what might be helpful to players of blackjack and other table games. I don’t follow online betting opportunities so I don’t know which of these websites are legit or the best, but this survey of Vegas blackjack and other table games seems very thorough and up to date and looks like a valuable resource for casino table game players.

“2019 Blackjack Ball: The Inside Scoop”

Here are some links if you have heard of the “Blackjack Ball” and would like more information about it.  Henry Tamburin has written a two-part article summarizing its history and giving a very detailed description of the 2019 event.  Part 1 lists the 21 difficult test questions that face everyone and Part 2 gives the answers. You might want to take the test to see how you stack up to the experts!

The Frugal Gambler Audio Book

If you have been roaming around the Internet, particularly checking out gambling websites, you may have seen a Google ad with a picture of the cover of my recent book The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide.  However, if you click on that ad, you will be taken to information about getting an audio version of one of my books, but it is not this recent title but the 2nd edition of my first book, The Frugal Gambler. Fortunately, the page to which this ad takes you has the correct (green) cover and there is no charge to listen to a sample of this book.  Be aware this is the book that came out in 2005; although a lot of the basics of gambling haven’t changed, the casino conditions have drastically changed.

I also know this to be true as people e-mail me with questions that have been discussed at length in the Comment section.  Many people post comments many days or even many weeks after the original blog and that information may be as helpful – or even more so – as things I have written.  An example of this is when players wanted to know what we and others are doing when a favorite casino downgrades machines and/or changes a major program, as Boyd had done.  That subject was discussed at length in the comments on many blogs, and you would be able to see what casinos to which other knowledgeable players are switching.

So, if you rarely read the “Comment” sections – you could go back some weeks or months and might be surprised how much new or helpful information you missed.  And then you might decide to get in the habit of, before reading a new blog, go back and read comments on at least the last one or two. (I do this for QOD and all the blogs I read on this website – LVA readers are very knowledgeable – and very generous in sharing their valuable information!)

And now for the reason why we are taking a long vacation away from casinos.  I write a lot about the value of gamblers having a good balance between casino life and what I call “real life.”  These pictures, taken in Georgia, show how much love is being shared and how much St. Patrick’s Day fun we are having in our “real life.”

Great-grandchildren:  Cooper, 4 months, Asher, 4, and Bowen, 2.

Vegas4locals – one of the best places to find free and/or inexpensive things to do in Vegas, with tons of information for both frugal locals and visitors alike.

MarksLasVegas  –  Click on the tabs at the top of the website for both gambling and Las Vegas info, including interesting information under “Offbeat and Tidbits,” helpful info if you need medical help while staying on the Strip, and the Bellagio Fountain Show song list.

Thrillist.com recently posted an eclectic list of a whopping 45 free things to do in Las Vegas, including some offbeat possibilities I had never read about before.

And sometimes I just run across some articles on interesting subjects. Here’s one about Vegas opening a gambling court.     And here is one that describes one man’s quest to make money in minor casino games with unusual and mostly little-known techniques.

Holiday Gift Ideas

Speaking of resources, are you looking to buy a holiday gift for a gambling friend or relative who likes to visit casinos?  I recommend you check out the LVA holiday catalog.  There you can find books for the professional gambler as well as for those who just enjoy casino games as a recreational choice.  There are also selections for those who are looking for general information about Las Vegas, including a guide to restaurants all over town.

And for the frugal, check out the section of the LVA Shop highlighting products that are on sale.

There is also a special Jean Scott section. Some have asked me whether they should pick up my new book, The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide, if they already have read/studied my other books in the Frugal Gambler series. That depends.  Long-time experienced gamblers might not find much new but casual players might find it helpful for my discussions about the new changes in the casino world.  It is the perfect book for newbie gamblers and for those who are thinking about choosing new games.   I have expanded the book to cover all casino games, listing the casino edge for each one and giving techniques to reduce that edge. So although it is a good VP primer, the information on players club and comp systems would help most players in a casino make their gambling bankroll stretch for more casino fun time.

More Frugal Gambling is still the best place to start to learn about the complex casino comp system. This is still the only book that covers this subject in depth, and it will give you a solid base to understand better the updates in the more recent Guide book. The “Frugal Gambler Video Poker Scouting Guide” pocket-size booklet is a must-carry for VP players who are looking to play the best games.

I am feverishly working on bringing out the 4^th edition of Tax Help for Gamblers, a necessary update with all the recent tax changes in 2018.  Russell Fox, a noted EA and tax preparer, has come on board to help me with all the major ramifications for gamblers.  We would have liked to have had this book out yesterday, but we are having to wait for the “beloved” IRS to bring out the 2018 tax return forms.  I will let everyone know when the new book is available but I figure now it won’t be out until after the first of the year.  Just hoping the government will see the need for the new forms VERY SOON.

However, the casino business – just like many other businesses we deal with in our everyday life, like banks, grocery stores, drug stores, restaurants, airlines – sometimes make changes that we just can’t understand.  And that describes many players reactions to the brand new players club being introduced by Boyd Gaming.

Let’s think about what we need if a business changes its rules, regulations, or policy.  First, we need a clear explanation of all the changes, especially the basic ones.  This is where so many players are feeling frustrated about the new Boyd players club. I looked everywhere this last week to find the two basic facts someone needs to initially analyze any player club system:     How much coin-in does it take to earn a point and then how much is a point worth for whatever benefits this casino offers – cash, free play, or comps. I went to the kick-off party and absolutely no specific facts were given.  I checked online and looked for brochures and signs in the casino.  Nothing!

I finally did find the facts of the second point on their website:  You can redeem for FastPlay,  for dining, shopping, or hotel stays. Save 40% on the dollar value of your B Connected Points when you redeem for food at 600 B Connected Points = $1.00. FastPlay and retail purchases are 1,000 B Connected Points = $1.00.

However, nowhere could I find in writing how much you had to play to earn a point, the other piece of information we needed. Finally, just yesterday I went to the players club at the Gold Coast and asked this question and I was given a little credit-card-size cardboard with a point-earning chart:

$1 of coin-in Reel, Video Reel, and Keno (must be all Keno box) = 1 Base B Connected Point

$2 of coin-in Poker and Multi-Games = 1 Base B Connected Point

Bonus B Connected Points are now earned based on type of game, average bet, and length of play

Table Games – B Connected Points are earned based on the type of game, average bet and length of play (Table Game Points are not earned in Las Vegas or Diamond Jo Worth)

For Race, Sports, and Bingo please see B Connected.

Although some of the details above aren’t very clear or complete, why wasn’t this basic information  put somewhere in writing online so anyone could access it?   Not everyone will be able to visit one of their casinos right away, and many won’t think about asking.  I am wondering if this information I got was for Las Vegas only – and it will be different for properties in other areas of the country???  This means each player probably needs to research information for each specific casino where they plan to play.  Although this club is supposed to be company-wide, I am thinking there might be individual property-specific details.

After I found  the basic-point facts, I began to analyze the tier system. This has been an area of confusion for many, but it helps if you understand there are two different separate systems.  The first system is the “point” system I discussed above. The other system is the tier one in which you earn “credits.”  There are different earning charts for each of these systems with much different benefits!  However, the two systems do “mix” with each other at times.  For example, players in the lowest tier, Ruby, do not earn the above-mentioned points and thus earn no benefits.  That chart does not kick in until you reach Sapphire.

Boyd was much more forthright in talking about the new tier system and the new luxury benefits they were offering to the top tiers – they talked about nothing but that at the launch party and they put a lot of hyped-up information about it on their website and in other written sources.   On that same little credit-size cardboard I referred to above they gave this information about how to earn tier credits: Reel, video reel, and keno players would earn 1 tier credit for each $5 coin-in, Bingo players needed $6 buy-in for 1 tier credit.   For video poker players it was to be “based on the game played, average bet, and time played.”

In this blog I have just touched on some of the basics of this new players club so far, but this information may have brought up more questions than answers for readers here.  I will be  talking about this subject in my blog probably for weeks, even months, tackling some of the problems these changes are causing.  In the meantime, here are some online resources for you to check that will give more information although they  certainly will not answer every question you might have since the details of many parts of the program are either missing or very confusing.

• An overall view of the program
• The rules and regulations:
• The details of the Vegas Young at Heart program

You can get more insight into these new major changes by reading posts in the forum at vpFREE.  (Subscribe at vpfree-subscribe@yahoogroups.com if you are not already a member).  There has been a very lively – even fiery – discussion there for the last week or so, which could help both slot and video players decide what kind of a relationship – if any – they might have with Boyd properties in the future in light of all these new changes.

I have not yet been able to confirm every future ramification for Brad’s and my own play decisions.  I know we are going to play at the Gold Coast tomorrow – Labor Day – because we can still play our favorite good-EV video poker machine at 11x points – a fairly okay play for us.  That’s about as far we can plan right now.

Stayed tuned!

Q:  Do you know anything about bus transportation between Las Vegas and Laughlin?

A:  This seems to be a very fluid subject. I remember taking free bus day trips from Las Vegas many many years ago that usually included a sightseeing feature or two on the way down and a free lunch buffet after you got down there. I have heard of several such programs down through the years but don’t know if any are running now.  And sometimes I’ve heard of inexpensive bus schedules both ways.  Best advice is to google for current info.  Someone recently mentioned a Silver Rider bus and I found this phone number on their website where you might get more information – 702-298-4435.  If you have taken one of these bus trips recently – free or with a paid ticket, it would be great if you could put details in the “Comments” section below.

Q:  You often mention promotions or information you find in the local Vegas newspaper.  Do you think that I should subscribe to it even if I am an out-of-towner?

A: Although as a local and a person who reads “The Review-Journal” daily, and I do find out some helpful information this way, there are almost always online resources where this same information could be found for free.   Here are the ones many people check frequently:

• Individual casino websites
• Scot’s Bonus Point List
• The ACG’s “Vegas Values,” a weekly report that gives you details on the best Las Vegas Casino Promotions.  
• Then there is this blog, where I scour many other sources and try to fill in with details that might not be given in other places.

Q:  Was there a Blackjack Ball this last year?  I didn’t read any reports about it.

A: Yes, although the usual date in January was changed to April this year.  Henry Tamburin attended this event and wrote a detailed description of all the action.  Part 1 of the “Inside Scoop on the 2018 Blackjack Ball” talked about the famous and always insanely difficult test that the attendees faced.  Part 2 gave the answers to that test and named the winner who gets bragging rights as the “World’s Best Blackjack Player.”

Smile of the Day

I love schoolteacher jokes and here is one that made this English teacher chuckle:

Q: What do you say to a crying grammar teacher?

A: There, they’re, their.