I will be returning to Vegas in late June. Does anyone offer video poker lessons? There are so many different games, how does one choose?

In regards to the QoD for June 15, 2010, you list gaming job swings in an number of states as a result of the depression. I could not help but notice that you left out Oklahoma. We have a large number of gaming locations including the third-largest casino in North America, WinStar. I just looked again, you left out Connecticut home of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, and California with tons of card rooms. What gives?

I don’t play poker, so this might be a dumb question, but what is the origin of the title "Kill Phil"?

Where are the chips casinos use made? Also, do the casinos see many counterfeit chips?

I hope this question isn’t too sensitive to answer, but here goes. I’ve been a big fan of Blair Rodman’s since reading his excellent book Kill Phil. I also liked his history of the World Series of Poker that you put up recently. But conspicuous in its absence is any mention of WSOP Main Event winner Russ Hamilton. I know that Russ has been the source of much bad press and ill will in poker of late, but he was the 25th-anniversary champion and, along with the first-place prize, was paid the value of his weight in silver. Anthony Curtis has made no secret of the fact that he and Russ are long-time friends, so I expected a lot more than nothing.

I just returned yesterday from Vegas. Great time! I heard from a reliable source that the Rio has been sold and while the World Series of Poker is starting, the final table is planned to be at Planet Hollywood due to the sale. Could the buyer possibly be George Maloof?

You noted in the May Las Vegas Advisor that the World Series of Poker will have some $550 tournaments available this year. On their web site, however, other then the Casino Employee $500 event, the lowest priced entry I found was $1,000. Can you elaborate on the $550 deal?

In this month's LVA newsletter, with regard to gaming drop, it says the average budget per person, per trip is $481.57. How many days make a trip?

Question 1: As a follow-up to your answer to today's question (QoD 4/9/10) about casino hosts, my question is, how much do you need to bring to Vegas in order for the casino hosts to be interested in hosting you? Question 2: What size bankroll does one need in order to feel they can enlist the services of a casino host? If you tell them you have a certain size bankroll and you don't put it in action, what can you expect the repercussions to be, if any?

We'll be there in June to catch some World Cup matches. Where, besides Crown & Anchor pub, are good places to catch the matches.