Las Vegas Strip Gambling Revenue Spikes More Than 30% LVS WYNN MGM - Investors.com

Las Vegas Strip Gambling Revenue Spikes More Than 30% LVS WYNN MGM - Investors.com

It's WSOP time, poker games can be found all over Las Vegas | Casino Games | Gaming News

Nice article from Gaming News about poker and WSOP !

"Son, carnivals and casino games are what are known as gamblin’. Stay away from it. You have got no chance of winning. Remember as long as you live, stick to poker."

Always remember as my daddy told me, "Son if you know poker, you know people. If you know people, you’ve got the whole dang world lined up in your sights..."

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It's WSOP time, poker games can be found all over Las Vegas | Casino Games | Gaming News

Suspects Accused of Slot-Rigging Scheme in Two States - Las Vegas Channel 8 News

Suspects Accused of Slot-Rigging Scheme in Two States: "Two men are accused of rigging slot machines and illegally winning nearly $1.4 million from Las Vegas casinos. The men allegedly targeted specific machines in an elaborate scheme that spanned coast to coast. The FBI is heading up the investigation and made the arrest in dramatic fashion."


LINK

Gambling Advice For ThoseWho Have Recently Departed $$$$

The 10 Dumb Graduated Aphorisms of Gambling

You will not find these gems of wisdom in any book !!

1. Don't gamble ever, and especially if you live near Vegas.
2. At least don't gamble the rent money.
3. If you still ignore the previous dumb aphorisms, and your urge to gamble is still habitual pathological, then call the Problem Gambler's Hotline for intervention and assistance. I lost their number, but it is in really small print all over the casinos.
4. If you can't gamble with OPM ( Other People's Money ) then only gamble with money you can afford to lose. See aphorism 7 for the definition of "bankroll".
5. If you are psychic and can see the future, then race and sports betting just might be a solution to your gambling problems.
6. If you still insist on gambling then learn how to play poker really, really, really well and /or learn to count cards in "21", except that it is almost impossible to make money consistently counting cards with the casinos re-shuffling multiple decks continuously, even while you sleep.
7. If you are still "dumb" enough to gamble and you are too lazy to learn the poker or blackjack skills, then stick to the table games like craps ( definitely stay away from the slots, especially the so called "penny games" ) and cry quit when you lose your bankroll, which is probably defined as the money in your pocket plus your maximum credit card advances and debit card withdrawals.
8. OK, if you still insist on gambling and ignore all previous advice, then move to a state that only has scratch cards. Buy one every pay period where you cash your check if you are lucky enough to find a new job in this economy.
9. Damn, you are still reading this --- what's wrong with you! Go ahead then and play penny slot games, but you should remember that they were invented by computer science geniuses and behavioral psychologists who know how to take your money as quickly as possible without your noticing it. You will probably run out of money before the cocktail waitress delivers your first drink.
10. You're pathetic! If all else fails please send 90% of the money you would have gambled to my Pay Pal account and use the remaining 10% ( in a reverse tithing way ) to buy some DMT to very realistically hallucinate that you have won a lot of money.

PS: For those of you who have noticed that there are 10 aphorisms as promised, there may still be a small spark of hope for you: go back to aphorism 6 and reconsider card counting...

But Seriously, Folks ...

So I don't get in trouble with the publisher and with all kidding aside, if you are a "responsible" gambler then by all means I recommend this book to increase your chances of winning or at least stretching out those gambling dollars. Besides, gaming revenues are good for the local Vegas economy and I may have to move if Nevada initiates state income taxes !
( Have fun, and gamble responsibly... )

$5 Mail-In Rebate

March is Dummies Month. Buy a Dummies book between March 1 and April 30, 2010, and get $5 back with a mail-in rebate. See details at Amazon.com !

Escape To The New And The Old Vegas, The Glitz and The Glittter

(Editor's note and apology: Somebody read this post and pointed out all the negative connotations and qualities of the words "glitter" and "glitz". By way of explanation I am referring ( probably poorly and at risk of coining new meanings ), to only the positive qualities of these two words. I took the liberty to use "glitz" to mean sumptuous; that is, something inherently wealthy or expensive, and "glitter" to mean "gorgeous but superficially glamorous" After all, the area around Fremont Street is still called "glitter gulch" and in my mind this is still an apt description ...)

This weekend was a kind of escape into tourism ( versus localism ? ) for me, maybe because business is slow, the world is catching its collective breathe waiting to see what changes are in store economically ( and politically ), and Vegas went from Summer to Winter, or at least warm to cold in what seems to this local like a very short time. Every year the fact that the high desert of Mojave seemingly has no transition season between Summer and Winter always surprises and amazes me, and when the market took a dive lately, I'm not sure many of us were prepared for that transition either. Let's just say my 401K is now more like a 201K!

So as a master of escapism ( Houdini like ), my first destination ( the glitzy one ) yesterday was the Casino Monte Lago at Lake Las Vegas Resort in Henderson. I had a mailed postcard for a "free" gift: a leather duffel bag that looked like just the ticket to pack some personal effects and go on a not so well deserved trip away from Vegas. So, since Casino Monte Lago is know for its high end gifts to loyal patrons ( in addition to mugs and tee shirts ) --- I felt obligated to "pay them back" for their generosity, which I did handsomely on one of their new penny slot games that I am not familiar with that replaced the old "Twilight Zone" and "Nickel Wheel Of Fortune" machines. I wrongly assumed that a new game would pay more at the beginning to attract new players, but I was sadly mistaken.

Anyway, after picking up my "consolation" gift and a coupon for a free meal celebrating Oktoberfest at their new Portofino events room, I felt a little better. The events room is mentioned in their latest monthly Monte Lago Village Resort newsletter:

'Book your holiday party at Portofino! Portofino is Casino MonteLago’s new Events Room located next to the Tenuta Bar. Domed painted Cathedral ceilings and wrought iron sconces accent this beautiful Tuscan-styled room, which boasts 1,100 square feet of meeting space and accommodates up to 100 people. Outdoor patio space is available for pre-function events.'

'For additional information or to schedule a tour, please contact Chris Eissler at (702) 939-8922.'

I left the "glitz" of Casino Monte Lago with an idea that I would go back to my old haunting grounds in downtown Vegas ( the "glitter" part of my great escape ) as soon as possible. So today I wandered downtown to the Plaza Hotel and Casino at One Main Street and what a contrast! I decided to play craps at a 3 dollar minimum table, and mind you I have not played at a table game in over 5 years! But once learned, craps is like riding a bicycle, in that you never forget how to play, although there is no guarantee you won't still fall off your bike. Playing and winning are two different things, however, and I lost most of my small stake after an hour of play and knew it was time to quit when the box man raised the minimum bet to five dollars. Luckily, a short play at the 25 cent wheel of fortune and I won my most of my money back. I vowed that I would stick to the slots for a while.

And while in the Plaza Hotel and Casino, I noticed that there was what looked like a really fun old fashioned dinner show called "The Rat Pack Is Back!" which I made a mental note to attend in the near future.

'The Plaza Hotel & Casino is bringing back the roots of Las Vegas entertainment, classic Vegas-style dinner shows with huge success. The Rat Pack is Back! is an eccentric must see show, featuring the best Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Dean Martin and Comedian Joey Bishop impersonators around recreating a nostalgic return to the Sand’s Copa Room. Boasting the only remaining live big band in Las Vegas, the energetic show features the Lon Bronson Orchestra and is the only Las Vegas based show with national touring productions and an award from the “Congress of the United States.” The show is a hit and a perfect fit for this nostalgic showroom, evidenced by the fact the show has recently been playing to sold-out audiences.'

'Dinner options are also available at 6 p.m. nightly including seating inside the showroom, which also retains the real classic-Vegas feel. The dinner show, the Rat Pack is Back!, performs at 7:30 p.m. nightly, except Sunday, with an additional show on Saturdays at 10 p.m. Tickets start from just $49.00 plus tax and fees for general show admission and from $59.99 plus tax and fees to include dinner.'

After visiting the Plaza, I wondered back to Henderson via the long "scenic" route on East Freemont ( always an exciting experience ) to Boulder Highway. I stopped by the Eastside Cannery to see Jimmy Limo play his guitar at the newest property on the Boulder Strip. Mind you I had not actually caught Jimmy playing at his new venue since the Eastside Cannery opened in late August. I requested or asked politely ( Jimmy always takes requests ! ) for Jimmy to play "Secret Agent Man" and it sounded oh so good. Then he played Dylan's "Knocking On Heaven's Door" which sounded even better with his new vocal harmonizer gizmo that adds two and three part harmony to his vocals in real time. And then he indulged me by playing his original composition called "Sunset Ridge" which he almost forgot he had written ( just joking, Jimmy! ). Jimmy performs at the Pin Ups Lounge every day except Tuesday ( Monday, Wednesday - Sunday 4:30pm - 7:30pm ) . Jimmy is such a class act that he exhibits both sides of Vegas, the glitter and the glitz! His music is a perfect complement to the Eastside Cannery's 50's and 60's theme. Anyway, stop by the Pin Ups Lounge some evening and relax at the bar or at your favorite casino slot game, and tell Jimmy "Mercurial Mike sent me" ! He will probably reply: "Who?"

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About The Plaza Hotel And Casino

"The Plaza offers an array of innovative table games and slot machines; a new restaurant called Lombardi’s Italian Kitchen; the DOME, Las Vegas’ only ultra sports lounge; the largest race and sports book downtown; the hottest shows in town – the Rat Pack is Back and Viva Las Vegas; free live entertainment right on the casino floor in the Aqua Lounge; the Lucky 7’s Buffet; and a host of other amenities including a roof top swimming pool and tennis courts. Guests may call (702)386-2110 or (800)634-6575 or visit www.plazahotelcasino.com for more information and/or hotel reservations."

Slot Technician Shares Slot Secrets

Today I had the pleasure of meeting a former slot technician, who chooses to remain anonymous. Over a few beers, he revealed some "inside information" that was really very interesting.

He revealed some "secrets" to me, some of which I had already known, but some were new to me:

1. Don't play penny slots if you are trying to make money. They are programmed to eventually take your money away. Psychologists designed them to do this. They are OK to play if you just want to have fun, but like a pinball machine, don't expect much more than some free play as a reward. If you walk away a winner, consider yourself very lucky, but don't go back to the same machine you just won from.



2. Over time, some machines that aren't being played or are not paying out will have their percentage return increased to encourage play ( this is a manual process ) or they are removed and replaced by more popular machines.



3. I asked him specifically about my favorite game, Cleopatra Keno. He said it is a good game, but always play it at the 25 cent or dollar denomination level ( but dollar is too rich for my blood! ). Quarters and dollars have better odds for the player. They never change the percentage return for dollars, and these are set to pay at a higher percentage return. Never play nickels or pennies.



4. I asked him where the best machines were. First of all, he recommended the older machines in downtown Las Vegas like the Union Plaza or The El Cortez. If you are on the strip you are really at their mercy. Go a little off the strip, try places that advertise the highest returns like South Point and The Joker Wild in Henderson on Boulder Highway.



5. Eventually all slot machines in a casino will be networked to one central computer, where the percentage returns for any machine can be changed in real time ( by "pushing one button" ) and the new chip programs can be remotely loaded and installed!

And after a few more beers he revealed an even more extraordinary secret that I promised I would not tell anybody!

But then again, maybe it was the beer talking, who knows? Everybody knows that luck is just being in the right place at the right time, ... right?

Fourth Generation Las Vegas Casino Gaming Devices Mess With Your Mind

Fourth generation or "4G" is a name to describe some invention or innovation that has gone through several levels of improvement. Sometimes it may seem that there are four distinct stages. An example I am very familiar with is the evolution of computer programming languages from machine language to Fourth Generation Language ( which uses Artificial Intelligence methods). Other examples abound in technology: the vacuum tube was a first generation invention that was replaced by the transistor and printed circuit board, which further evolved into the integrated circuit chip, which will eventually evolve into nano-technology. Another example would have been the automobile: some may argue that because of the powerful international oil cabal, the American automobile industry has not been allowed to evolve much beyond the first generation internal combustion engine. Any innovations in engine design that reduces or eliminates the need for gasoline fuel are quickly bought out and the inventor is silenced, or worse. Or so the conspiracy theorists , uh, well, ... so they theorize.

Yet another example of 4G innovation is the modern casino gaming device. Notice I did not say "improvement", I said "innovation". The jury is out on whether these new machines are improvements for people who play. Let's review a brief and incomplete history of the casino gaming device:

1) Antiques - these are typified by the "one-arm bandit" of the Old West -- completely mechanical with gears and moving metal parts.

2) Traditional single action - these are the older ancestor of the modern video poker machines I played back in the late seventies and eighties. You put five quarters in them and then pull the handle --- each pull is completely independent and if you win it dumps the quarters in your tray. Coins in, coins out. Simple to understand. Biggest drawback: dirty hands ( from touching the coins).

3) Modern credit machines - the big innovation here was that you could play without putting more money in as long as your balance was positive. This led to machines that took bills ( paper money ) and then multi-denomination games that allow you to choose amongst several games and your unit of play --- penny, nickel, dime, quarter, etc... This also led to the "ticket in --- ticket out" machines that pay in vouchers that can be fed for credit into another machine. This also led to the casino's ability to track your betting habits, wins, and losses in great detail with their slot club cards.

4) So called "penny slot machines" - These 4G gaming machines may use more electricity than the traditional machines, but based upon their growth, they are big money makers for the casinos. Oddly enough, they tend to pay less, but many people like to play them more than the traditional machines.

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The following describes the new penny slots better than I can, and is taken by an article in the Daily Herald called Illinois casinos beat the odds with tighter slot machines:

At the center of concern are new penny, 2-cent, 3-cent and nickel machines. Many look much like video games, sometimes with interactive touch screens, TV or movie clips and attractive themes like "Wheel of Fortune," Monopoly or "The Wizard of Oz."

These aren't your average one-armed bandits.

Psychological studies, focus groups, surveys and other intense research goes into empowering these slots to keep gamblers playing longer and betting more - and ultimately losing more, but somehow leaving happy.

"There is a science to everything," says Scott Herrington, a senior producer for WMS Gaming Inc., a major slot machine designer and manufacturer based in Waukegan.
At WMS' trendy programming office on Chicago's North Side, he walks along rows of new, vibrant slots in a small side showroom.

Jumping from machine to machine, Herrington illustrates the alluring elements his team of researchers and programmers have created to keep gamblers entertained and spending:

• Bonus round: All of these new slots offer gamblers a chance to enter a second game level where they can rack up extra cash, sometimes by selecting boxes or targets to reveal prizes.


• Theme: Many slots target demographic groups via movie, TV show or iconic themes such as "Star Wars" or "Happy Days." This is enhanced with video clips and theme songs. The longer a gambler plays, the longer the video and audio tracks run.


• Hits: The more gamblers bet on a spin, the more often they will "win" or hit a combination that sets off video, theme songs and other psychological rewards. But often, the "win" ends up being less than the amount bet, say $1 on a $5 bet. The machine constantly encourages the gambler to "Bet Max."
  "If you don't play all the lines, you are not seeing everything the game has to offer," Herrington says.


• Control: Some new machines give players the illusion of control, such as bonus rounds that require gamblers to pick boxes or targets to win prizes. The newest line from WMS offers "mechanical" reels that have video graphics displayed on top of them. Herrington says some gamblers prefer reels because they don't trust a computer. These slots, like all slots, are actually run by computer chips.


• Payout: Programmers set up these slot machines to pay out at different rates. Some "dribble" out small amounts to gamblers more often. Others hold back on small payouts to give fewer, larger ones. Herrington calls this "playing with the math" of the computer chip, which is set to withhold a certain percentage of total bets over a long period of time.

The best slot machine "is the perfect stew of all of this," summarizes Herrington. All of these new elements draw in more gamblers and more money, but none of them loosen the machine's tight payout. That is determined by the casino operators.
As long as gamblers keep flocking to more entertaining, tighter machines, there is little reason for casino operators to increase the overall payout.
"Casinos are a business and obviously their interests are in maximizing profitability," Eadington says.

Casino Monte Lago Slot Club Gifts Are A Step Above

Vegas locals and tourists alike: if you are looking for a slot club that is slightly out of the way but a step above the rest, then try Club Uno at the Casino Monte Lago at Lake Las Vegas resort in Henderson. The Casino Monte Lago is adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton.

The latest free offerings for players are depicted above. They are a great improvement over the traditional mugs and tee shirts! Actual items may vary slightly from the images shown.

From left to right:

• Folding Travel Chair & 4 pc Stainless Steel Mug Set


• Folding Travel Table & Beach Towel


• Rolling Collapsible Cooler Bag

I talked to the people who run the slot club, and they could not tell me what level of play is required to get the free gifts. Club Uno also features weekly bonus free play and the ability to exchange points for free play or food at the restaurants. Also occasionally, bonus "Monte Lago Lira" moolah is issued ( varying from $5 to $25 denominations ) which can be used at any of the shops in Monte Lago Village or in the casino restaurants. Recently, regular casino patrons were offered 1/2 off coupons for the annual outdoor traditional Fourth Of July BBQ.

Also, Lake Las Vegas offers recreational activities, concerts, free movies, and other events on the lake.

Eight Eight O Eight ( 888 ) In Vegas

Even as the last rocket explodes and fades out into the darkened sky, Vegas can look forward to another big weekend coming up in August. Based upon the fact that the Chinese New Year rivals January First New Year's Eve for casino revenues, it would not be a stretch of the imagination to predict that the weekend starting Friday August 8, 2008 will be a big winner for the major casinos. Or maybe not.

The Chinese, whose 888 (ba ba ba in Mandarin) is the equivalent of our 777, will have their chance at big luck on Aug. 8, 2008 when the day ciphers out to 8/8/08.
The Chinese as a group are huge gamblers, which explains why some casinos project making more money on high stakes Chinese junkets for the Chinese New Year than they do on any other day of the year, including our traditional New Year's on January first.

The day 08-08-2008 is considered to be more meaningful to the Chinese than 07-07-2007 was. It is the day chosen as fortunate for the start of the Chinese 2008 Olympics in Beijing. So many more affluent Chinese from Hong Kong may be diverted there, as opposed to visiting Vegas.

Whether any actual gaming revenue spike occurs, as it no doubt did for July Fourth weekend, will remain to be seen. The casinos are very reluctant in revealing actual profits and revenues when they are down. Lately, the casinos revenues are trending south along with the gaming stock index.

Vegas Downturn Imminent?

I hear comments from people like that of guest host George Knapp ( Investigative reporter for local KLAS Channel 8 TV news ) last Friday night on the Coast To Coast AM radio show; George says that he observed that the major casinos are becoming much less crowded during the week. He was attending a luncheon meeting in a major ( unnamed ) Vegas casino and he said that you could "shoot a cannonball though the casino and not hit any people" ( I'm paraphrasing from memory here ).

I am wondering that since the Las Vegas Convention Center & Visitor's Authority & McCarran airport ( visitors ), the hotels ( occupancy ) and the casinos ( revenues )publish visitor stats that often are delayed by a few months, whether we are getting a very accurate, current picture of the downturn in the Vegas economy. Maybe the casinos are loosing customers due to the economic downturn at such a rate that they are unwilling to admit or publish.

I am interested in harbingers of a true recession in the Vegas casinos, which were once deemed to be recession proof. I can see why the casinos would be reluctant to admit that their tourism and visitor rate is way off, and that their revenues are way down. Gamblers who used to visit Vegas to possibly make some money are finding that leaving Vegas as a net winner is getting more difficult, due to high costs of hotel rooms and meals, not to mention the cost of traveling here. Do many casino employees fear further cutbacks and layoffs? This would have a great ripple effect throughout the Vegas economy.

What does this mean to the average Vegas visitor? In the short term, expect great deals in hotel rooms, dining and entertainment as the hotels compete for your dollar ( or whatever currency you bring! ). In the long term, I am not capable of predicting anything, but like most people I rely on the economic experts, who often contradict each other.

I noticed that Technorati, which reports the "buzz" in the blogoshere, has shown a precipitous drop in mentions of the word "Vegas" in the blogs. Could this mean that there is not enough "happening" here to evoke blogging responses? Or am I just being paranoid ( as usual ) ?

English posts that contain "vegas" per day for the last 30 days.

Get your own chart!

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Benjamin Spillman, a reporter at the Las Vegas Review Journal, reports that " Gambling stocks tumble on economic woes".

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Read a related article from Steve Friess of The Las Vegas Weekly, "Boom Cycle -Can Las Vegas ever be overbuilt?"

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And this economic analysis about the possible end of the Las Vegas building boom from Reed Construction Data.
From the article:

"Casinos are cutting room rates and meal prices to attract more visitors. This will increase volume but may or may not increase profits. This is a rational short term response. Longer term, a more diversified economy is needed but it will be hard to draw new industries to what has become an expensive, union dominated city with a reputation that is repugnant to many people."

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Recession?

Photo credit:
Graphic by Mike Johnson of the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Blogosphere Buzzin' 'Bout Vegas' Bombin' Economy

Google Blogs Alert for: Vegas

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Las Vegas Falls On Hard Times As Recession Grows


By Mark Hutcherson(Mark Hutcherson)


On a normal 4th of July weekend, Las Vegas would have over 95% of their rooms filled with happy travelers that would eagerly lay down hundreds of dollars at the gaming tables and not even mind that much when the casino, once again, ...


Hutch Report - http://mhutch.blogspot.com/

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Shooting Craps - Vegas comes up “snake-eyes!”


By Bryan Del Monte


With Americans cutting back on luxuries, and the price of gasoline and airline tickets rocketing, the so-called “Vegas vacation” is facing the axe. This week, as the nation celebrated Independence Day, major hotels were taking stock of ...


Right Commentary - http://www.rightcommentary.com

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Las Vegas Down and Out


By Michael Covel


This article paints a tough picture for Las Vegas and Casinos, but the charts of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) and Wynn Resorts (WYNN) (yes I am a broken record) showed a problem long before this article hit the wires.


Michael Covel's Official Site - http://www.michaelcovel.com

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The Road Not Taken - Vegas Locals Have A Choice

Photo Credit: Las Vegas Idiot.com

Las Vegas Idiot is a picture blog from a man on the streets in Las Vegas. The site is updated frequently and the quality of the photos are fantastic.

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Even for hard working Las Vegas locals, it is becoming more and more a question of how much it costs to drive across town to their favorite casino, restaurant, mall, or club for a little R&R. I'm referring to the casual gambling & dining local crowd, like me. The ubiquitous Station casinos are experts in designing awards programs for attracting locals with their frequent player cards, but I've never really played there enough to be sucked into that "black hole". The Station casinos are even reimbursing people for their gas on some 2 night hotel mini-vacation packages, which locals are buying up as Staycations! I give the Station Casinos a lot of credit ( bad choice of words ) for their clever marketing and ability to generate customer loyalty. My favorite Station Casino property, Green Valley Ranch, is literally within walking distance of my home in Henderson.

If you live in Henderson ( a city that adjoins Las Vegas to the South ) like I do, the thought of whether to 1) travel to the Strip or 2) a local casino for just some casual gambling or dining is becoming a "no - brainer", especially on a holiday weekend like the one coming up in 10 days ( July 4th weekend ), with all the crowds and the traffic. Don't get me wrong, I love to "play tourist" and go to the Strip, but there has to be a specific event or planned destination and a compelling reason for me to go there. Unless I have a specific reason to go to the Strip ( and God knows, I wish I had more reasons like the Tapis Rouge event last Thursday! ) I will go to the local places in Henderson like Green Valley Ranch Station Casino or Casino Monte Lago at Lake Las Vegas ( also in Henderson ).

With Vegas becoming a world class travel destination ( which implies higher prices for meals, shows, entertainment, shopping, etc. ) and with the current economic downturn, many Vegas locals are staying closer to home and holding on to their wallets. Look for some tourist casinos on the Strip going more out of their way to attract locals.

In the Las Vegas Sun article cited above, "Hey, neighbor, try our hotel", the Sahara Hotel, which recently changed ownership, is mentioned as an example of a Strip casino going out of their way to attract locals:

'The Sahara is promoting video poker machines that it says are paying percentages more akin to those offered at neighborhood casinos. Word about the machines has spread among locals, who track favorable games that come and go from casinos on Web sites and Internet chat rooms. But the Sahara has given away the secret — all the better to lure tourists who want to be in the know — with a sign designating a part of the casino floor “Locals Lane.”

The Sahara also has created a separate players club for locals that offers deeper discounts for meals, drinks, shows and hotel rooms that can be used for players or out-of-town friends or family.

The Sahara began working on the locals program last year after Los Angeles nightclub king Sam Nazarian bought the property and before the economic downturn.'

Oddz And Endz - A Mid May Vegas Potpourri

Another View Of Vegas' Slowing Economy

Neighborhood Food Market Offers Lower Prices Without Sacrificing Quality

My wife does most of the food shopping and we like the idea of convenience, low prices and quality ( who doesn't ?). We occasionally shop at the "Yuppie" stores like Whole Foods and Trader Joes. But the prices are usually too high and the distance is too far. We also take advantage of the deals at the 99 cent and dollar stores. Along comes Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets to save the day. They are invading Henderson, Vegas, and North Las Vegas and building new locations - I counted a total of 12 locations in their local flyer. There are two stores within a mile of where we live.

The marketing plan for Fresh & Easy is simple. Minimize the overhead costs but provide high quality and pass the saving on to the customer. ( For example, there is no fresh deli department, but their packaged deli products are high quality and fresh. ) No loyalty cards or product coupons ( other than their ubiquitous $5 off coupon my wife seems to get for every trip to their store ).

"Fresh & Easy or Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is a chain of small supermarkets on the West Coast of the United States. It is a subsidiary of the UK-based retailer Tesco, the world's fourth largest retailer, and is Tesco's attempt to expand into the United States" - From the Wikipedia article.

My Favorite Multi-Reel Penny Games

Photo downloaded under a Creative Commons License

Click above for a larger image.

It has got to be "Invaders From The Planet Moolah" followed closely by "Cleopatra Keno" Hours of fun on chump change! :-O

Zen & The Art Of Poker

Zen & The Art Of Poker

Tournament poker can be very exciting, but like many exciting things in life, it can also be terrifying. There is nothing quite like the thrill of playing at a big money final table.

Zen has always been associated with the fine arts of flower arranging, calligraphy, and tea making. But there is also quite a tradition of Zen in swordsmanship and archery. Through reading these books and in particular "Zen in the Art of Archery," I have a greater understanding of the process one goes through to master an art form.

There are four basic stages that a player must pass through to achieve poker mastery:

1. Beginner's Passion
   

   
   "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's there are few." Shunryu Suzuki
   

   
   A journey that might lead to poker mastery must begin with passion. There is a boundless enthusiasm in the novice poker player's attitude. Poker is fun. It is played with no fear. There is a lack of self-consciousness. The game is played with joy.



2. The Student Emerges
   

   
   "He is now forced to admit that he is at the mercy of everyone who is stronger, more nimble and more practiced than he." Eugen Herrigel
   

   
   At some point, the joy and boundless passion for the game must give way to a structured effort to learn the game. There is a great deal of technical skill needed to succeed at poker. And at the beginning of this journey a great depression can overwhelm the student. He suddenly fears those that are more skilled than he. He longs for the days of blissful ignorance, when he only played because it was fun.
   
   Once I became comfortable playing at a new level, my confidence would return, my newfound technical skills would become internalized, and my spontaneity would return. This process has taken over twenty years, and has included countless cycles of diving into the poker unknown, followed by the eventual feeling that I belong at that new level.



3. Expert Level is Achieved
   

   
   "He who has a hundred miles to walk should reckon ninety as half the journey" Japanese Proverb
   

   
   After years of study, a poker player can achieve expert status. If, however, she becomes satisfied in her success, then mastery will be forever beyond her reach. Improving as a poker player is a never ending process. The competition is always changing and adapting. If a player fails to change and adapt also, then the competition will close the gap or, even worse, pass her by.
   
   Twenty years into my poker career, I found myself having success both in tournaments and side games. But I also felt like I wasn't progressing like I wanted. I seemed to hit a wall in my poker development. I had always been mindful to never become satisfied with my game. But I was, increasingly, finding it difficult to improve.
   
   Every tournament is different. There are different games, different formats, different levels of skill in your opponents, and different settings. And suddenly, hole card cameras were added to the mix. I then turned my attention to reading about some of the Zen arts. I had studied Zen Buddhism in high school, and it had always appealed to me. But, I now saw the study of the Zen arts as a way to make some breakthroughs in my poker development.



4. Poker, One Hand at a Time
   

   
   "If one really wishes to be master of an art, technical knowledge of it is not enough. One has to transcend technique so that the art becomes an 'artless art' growing out of the Unconscious" Daisetz T. Suzuki
   

   
   Staying in the moment is the path to poker mastery. And it is poker tournaments that present the greatest challenge to this goal. But, I believe that the study of the Zen arts can lead you down that path.
   
   I realized that the more I could stay focused on the present hand and forget about bad beats and bad plays from my recent past, the better I would play. I also concluded that even more damaging to my focus on the present hand might be the nervousness brought on by thoughts of winning the tournament. Staying in the moment at the poker table is not an easy task. But, when I read "Zen in the Art of Archery," there was a concept that stayed with me. The master archer hits the target without having aimed. This meant that the more I tried to focus on the moment, the more I would not succeed. I could only find that focus from within myself. I decided that I would sit at the table and relax. For two years now, I have been practicing my own form of poker meditation. Instead of trying hard to focus, I allow it to happen through relaxation.
   
   I have started to walk the last ten miles in my poker journey, and I am prepared for that walk to take me the rest of my life.

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CREDITS:

Howard Lederer is a two-time WPT champion and winner of two WSOP gold bracelets. You can play poker with Howard online at FullTiltPoker.com.

The above is a much abridged version of the article, for copyright reasons.

To read the full article click here.

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Money Can Buy You Love In Vegas -- Not What You Think!

Since my energy levels have been much diminished lately, I have not been able to post here as much as I wanted. So I missed writing about the Super Bowl Parties, and Romantic Valentine's getaways --- the two hottest topics of the recent season. Nevertheless, I will try to cook up for you to imbibe, some competitive gaming and pursuit of love combinations, but that may be a hard mixture to prepare or digest.

These are strange times. I keep hearing Paul McCartney singing his old song "Money Can't Buy Me Love". How true for him, considering his "Ticket To Ride" with Heather Mills is potentially costing him more than $3000 an hour. Yes, Three Grande for every hour he was married to the beech! How decidedly and emphatically not true for the average Vegas visitor. Here in Vegas, you can get a lot of love for much less than $3000 an hour...

But for those whose desire for intimacy is more social than romantic ( or physical ) may I suggest finding a socially networked slot machine and cheering loudly with your newfound friends during the jackpot events? I sat down at one of these networked slot machines with a group of five Vegas visitors -- strangers who became "friends", just like any social network. Social networked slots are where everybody playing at the same carousel ( can't remember the game's name, but it was not the "Wheel Of Fortune" ) gets a chance to cheer while drinking exotic drinks, for a commonly ( communally ? )shared random jackpot. I played one of these at ( of all places ) Circus Circus - the "newer" casino across from the Manor --- for about an hour --- while waiting for my wife to transact some legitimate nursing business in the Tower. I played the two cents minimum bet, which really stretched out my playing time. I met the coolest people, cheered until I could not speak, and walked ( more like staggered ) away with a forty buck profit. A social experience not unlike the average Super Bowl party, I mean "Big Game" party --- Money and "love" and free drinks. Now that's the Vegas I like. Even Sir Paul McCartney could not have done much better.

Vegas Casinos and the subliminal gaming muse(ick!)

If you walk into any Vegas casino, you are bound to notice ( usually ) very loud, piped in music. The music, just like the carpets, lighting, and decor are chosen carefully by the behavioral psychologists the casinos consulted, to excite your emotions, and induce you to "live it up" and forget ( distract you from ) your natural inhibitions. Sometimes the music is chosen to appeal to a certain demographic. Often, if you can determine what era the music is from, then you can pretty much pinpoint which age group the casino believes is their greatest "contributor" - uhhhh, I meant customer!

If the music is not your cup of tea and it is played loudly enough, it can often have the opposite effect than what the casino intended. This happened to my wife and I when we recently visited the Casino MonteLago in Henderson. Contemporary and nineties music were blaring from their rather good music system. Apparently the source was an XM radio station. I hate Britney Spears' music and all the other sappy, sexually charged music that sounds like it. But apparently, the casino is trying rather unsuccessfully ( IMHO ) to attract a younger crowd who thinks this type of musical crap is cool. ( And yes, I am old enough to have the right to say "cool". :-)

This piped in music was played at a level which made it hard for me to even think where my wallet was without being annoyed. It was louder than the noises coming from the penny keno slot machine that I was playing ( low roller that I am ) . I complained to the slot supervisor on duty, and he said we were not the only people who have complained about the background music, and that they ( the management ) were "looking into it". After the casino recently changed ownership they had made the remarkable decision to tear down their perfectly good live music stage and convert it to a "private" high limit slot room. I did not see anybody playing in there, probably because it was unimaginatively built with no full time human attendants, and with just some big screen TV's lining the walls to differentiate it from the rest of the casino. As if to say to the more ambitious, affluent patrons, here is a play area with some 100 dollar denominated games to keep you busy and if that is not enough to keep you happy, you can watch sports TV! Sort of a bad day care center for people willing and able to throw very large amounts of money into slot machines. What an insult.

I vote that they bring back the live music venue and maybe ratchet down the volume of their background music and change the type of music to appeal to a wider audience, most of whom do not really care to listen to lousy XM radio music while gambling. Me, I like live music. But I'm an old foggy, what do I know about how to run a casino? But I predict that the casinos that avoid the homogenized cookie cutter mentality and not treat their patrons like player card numbers will be the ones to attract the future Vegas gamer. When all the casinos begin to look alike, why would anybody choose yours, Mr. Casino Operator?

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Born Under A Bad Sign

Albert King : Born Under A Bad Sign

I really think that there is such a thing as a lucky streak, although I will never be able to prove it. The problem is that most people that experience a lucky streak don't realize it is over, and then their lucky streak becomes an unlucky streak. Morale of the story: know when to quit. ( I know, it is easier said than done. )

I also think that some people are inherently luckier than others, but it is hard to tell if their anticipation of good things happening in their lives opens the door for good things to happen to them. Chicken or egg, which came first?

I think there is such a thing as bad luck, and some people seem to have more of it than others. It just might be their outlook on life that is causing the bad luck, or it just might be their karma. Or their stupor - station ( or stupid situation?).

In the casino the other day I notice that there is a multi reel video gambling game that is called "Change Your Luck" --- it features thirteen buttons, black cats, walking under a ladder, broken mirrors, the number thirteen, etc. If you lose playing it, what have you proved? Does it just confirm that you are still unlucky?

So when you go into a casino with the intention of winning, do you have a better chance than somebody who does not? I think it would be a neat idea if casinos let you play a while for nothing just to "test your luck" and then if your luck is good, you could continue to play for money.

On the highest level of reality there really is no such thing as luck, just the sh-t that happens to all of us living in this relative world. The trick is to accept everything that happens to you as a gift and deal with it. It is called life and there are lessons to be learned here.

One lesson I am learning a lot lately is to stay away from any games that claim to "Change Your Luck".

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Important Editor's note: the staff and management of WHV apologize for the poor quality of this post - our chief ghost writer, one Kevin H. Speigelbrecher, has gone on strike in sympathy of the Hollywood TV writers. Either that, or he is wandering Fremont Street East in search of hookers and drugs. Hopefully, the great quality of writing will return to WHV once Kevin returns and the WHV PageRank is restored. Apparently, Kevin took our PageRank with him, and did not realize that it does not have any value in any pawn shop, or as legal tender for any debts, either public and private. We at WHV hope that he scores well on Fremont, and returns soon from his quest because he needs the paltry money we pay him to support his nasty habits. ( If it wasn't for bad luck, Kevin wouldn't have any no luck at all. :-)

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Station Casino's Guaranteed Play "Experiment"

One of the well - kept secrets of the casinos is that they are generally not interested in whether you are a loser or a winner in any single session at the casino. Unless you are consistently a winner at every session over time beyond the normal expectation --- now, that might raise a flag, and then they might look at you more carefully because you just might be cheating. But generally, the law of large numbers guarantees that they will show a profit over the long run, or "in the aggregate" as statisticians ( and I admit I am not one ) like to say.

The casinos "show their hand" in how they rate players and what is required to earn comps. They don't rate a table player by whether they are winners or looses in a particular session. All they want to know is how long you are playing and what is your level of play ( or denomination) --- are you a nickel (five dollar) quarter (25 dollar) or black chip ($100) player or higher? And how long will you play to let the law of averages begin to whittle away your bankroll. In other words, comps are equated to action ( time and amount of bet ) at the tables.

With the advent of the ubiquitous players cards it is now easy for the casinos to track the playing habits of slot players and to comp ( substitute: give "points" or "rewards" to ) them for play, using formulas that the computer can easily calculate and automatically dispense.

Enter into this picture the newest enticements to lure slot players into the casino. Imagine you are the manager of the slot department and all you want to do is increase the casino's profits, your department's bottom line. It is Tuesday morning at 5 AM and maybe nine out of ten slot machines are idle. Look at all that wasted potential revenue! Look at all that unused capacity! Like empty seats on an airplane or rooms in a hotel, how do you fill them?

Remember the casino values you and rewards you as a player by the total amount of play over a specific amount of time! One answer ( amongst many others )to fill those empty seats is offering the slot playing clientele a way to prepay at a discount for the privilege of playing at some level of play. Say, for example, they sell you 75 hands of max coin, quarter denominated ($1.25 per hand), bonus video poker at 7-10 seconds a hand ( on the average)? That's about 12 minutes of play for how much? How about twenty dollars? Does that sound like a good deal to you? If you win, you can walk away with your winnings at any time.

The Station Casinos is offering this "Guaranteed Play" option and it remains to be seen how successful they will be. For example you really can buy (pre-purchase) 75 hands of quarter-denominated video poker for $20.
See the brochure (Adobe pdf file) for details on the Station Casino's "Guaranteed Play", or contact the Station Casino Boarding Pass slot club for more details.

I have not tried this new "paradigm of play", but it sounds very intriguing. Somebody reading this who has tried the "Guaranteed Play" please comment here! What's the catch, if any?

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Las Vegas Sun Article: "New draw: Video poker with a guarantee"

DataCenter.com Article: "On-demand has big payout for Station Casinos"

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The "Wizard Of Odds" analyzes guaranteed play video poker here. It turns out that figuring out what are the advantages and optimum play can be very complicated.

What The Bleep Is Luck?

Listening to the Coast To Coast AM radio program last night with host Ian Punnett:

"Author and astrologer Barrie Dolnick joined her co-author, attorney Anthony H. Davidson, in a discussion on the nature of luck and the habits of lucky people."

Barry and Anthony were promoting their new book, Luck: Understanding Luck and Improving the Odds which made me think again about the question: Is there such a thing as luck? You know, the "L" word? Pardon my French --- but the French call it "Chance"! :-)

In the movie Casino ( or some similar movie, my memory is not that great lately! ), the casino owners said they did not believe in luck, just that the odds were in their favor and they were guaranteed to win over the long run, so why believe in luck? The owners called the players naive because they believe in luck. Good luck made the players return for more. Bad luck made them return to get their money back. Either way, the casino still wins in the long run. The law of large numbers says that because the outcome of the games have a "house advantage" --- in the long run the casino always has the advantage --- they are guaranteed to win!

Some sophisticated gamblers like "21" card counters, just like the casino owners, also do not believe in luck per se. When the "count" ( probability of the dealer busting more due to more "10" valued cards left in the deck ) is on their side, they increase their bets and for short times they may actually have an advantage over the casino.

When gambling, believing in luck may be the similar to believing in God, as posited in Pascal's wager:

"The ( Pascal )Wager posits that it is a better 'bet' to believe that God exists than not to believe, because the expected value of believing (which Pascal assessed as infinite) is always greater than the expected value of not believing."
- from Wikipedia article

So given the choice, a variation of Pascal's Wager is that it is always better to believe in luck, even if luck does not exist. Many gamblers say that if you are gambling with a bad attitude or negative expectations, it is nearly impossible to walk away a winner. The law of infinite abundance as preached in many New Age philosophies ( like "The Secret" )says that negative expectations always brings negative results.

My personal definition of luck is something like "being at the right place at the right time doing the right thing" --- a philosophy that makes sense in day to day life also. Anticipation of good luck is what makes gamblers return to Vegas ( the right place ) again and again --- it is the myth of winning the big jackpot this time, "against all odds". Professional sports players claim that at times they are "in the zone" and can do everything right, almost effortlessly. Professional gamblers like some poker players claim that there is such a thing as a "gambler's high" where they can "see" just a little into the future and just "know" that the cards are in their favor and there is a euphoric feeling of irrational optimism and wild expectation, just knowing that they are going to win!

The discussion on Ian Punnett's Coast To Coast show last night turned to occult methods that can help increase luck. Things like astrology and numerology and carrying a rabbit's foot ( or orange peel ) in your pocket. I am sure that the universe is cyclic and that we can tune into the waves and patterns in order to take advantage of of the positive energies and avoid or minimize the negative. Some people say that if we accept good luck as real then we must also accept bad luck; in other words: we should accept our fate and we can't change our destiny. Which makes some people, like Bible fundamentalists, a little squeamish on the idea of trying to control one's destiny or fate. Maybe we should not open that Pandora's box and not try to tempt fate, but just let things flow as God intended, and always accept things as they are. A point to ponder ( for a really short time)--- but it won't keep me from trying to hit a big jackpot!

Slot Machine Myths And The Gambler's Fallacy

All of the following slot machine myths are all FALSE. To find out why, do a Google search on "slot machine myths". But don't be discouraged - you will be lucky sometimes, otherwise the casinos would not expect you to ever want to come back! And always remember, there really is such a thing as luck, that is, in hindsight. If you win you experienced "good luck" and if you lose you experienced "bad luck"!

• 
  FALSE: It’s Luckier To Pull The Handle, Rather Than Hit The Max Credit Button.


• 
  FALSE: Make Sure You Put Coins In The Slot Machine Instead Of Using Credits. Don’t Forget To Use Cold Coins!


• 
  FALSE: This Machine Is About To Heat Up — That Means It’s Due!


• 
  FALSE: The Payoff Symbols Are Missing. This Baby Is Due To Hit The Jackpot!


• 
  FALSE: Someone Hits A Jackpot At The Machine You Were Just Playing: That Could Have Been Your Jackpot!


• 
  FALSE: Play The Machines Nearest The Doors Or Aisles.


• 
  FALSE: Payback Percentages Are The Highest On The Weekends.


• 
  FALSE: The Casinos Can Flip A Switch To Make Machines Tight Or Loose.


• 
  FALSE: Players Will Win More Often By Pulling The Arm Of The Slot Machine Rather Than Pushing The Spin Button.


• 
  FALSE: Machines Pay Better If You Use A Casino Slot Club Card.


• 
  FALSE: You Can Determine Your Odds Of Winning By Counting The Number Of Symbols On A Reel.


• 
  FALSE: You Should Play One Coin At A Time To Get More Chances At Hitting The Jackpot.


• 
  FALSE: If A Slot Machine Advertises A 95% Payback, Then I Should Expect A Return Of $95 For Every $100 I Put Into The Machine.

The gamblers fallacy is at the heart of many of these myths. The belief that any pull of the handle is at all affected by a previous pull is a fallacy ( called the gambler's fallacy, the incorrect belief that the likelihood of a random event can be affected by or predicted from other, independent events ). The heart of the slot program is a carefully designed random number generator which insures that each spin of the reels is independent of any other spin. The slot machine does not need to create so called winning or loosing steaks, it just creates outcomes that assure the casino a certain profit (typically 1 - 10%) over the long run.

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Slot Machine Books

Cleopatra And The Las Vegas Video Game Glitch

The following is pure speculation, but please humor me before you write off what I have to say.

In the Video Game industry (Nintendo type), there are teams of marketeers, game designers, programmers, graphics artists, all working together to create the next video gaming craze. They work hard at designing and testing a product and finally Quality Control (or whatever it is called) will perform final Beta testing before it is released to the general public.

Immediately on the release of a new game, the gamers out there are hacking and playing the game over and over, tying to find short cuts and tricks and glitches that will speed up reaching the final level of play or "winning", whatever that means. They share this information freely on the Internet forums. Some of these tricks are purposely built into the game and are known to the programmers & designers. Other design deviations are really bugs or glitches that the testers never found and the designers never intended to release. These glitches were not intended to be released with the final game, but were left in the final product, and the knowledge of some of these glitches can actually improve a gamer's play. ( BTW, as anybody in the software industry can tell you, no complicated software is ever 100% fault free! )

My question is this: video games --- the gambling type --- are very similar to these Nintendo type games -- just as complicated -- some of them may have built-in glitches that allow knowledgeable players to improve their odds of winning. Can a knowledgeable player use these glitches to improve his or her chances of winning?

For example, maybe some disgruntled programmer, knowing he is about to be canned, programmed the video poker machine to spit out royal flushes when some combination of buttons are pressed. I think this has actually happened.

There is one game that I will not reveal here, that seems to give the player an edge under certain circumstances. If I have knowledge of this advantage, can the casinos arrest me for cheating? Or like a known blackjack ( 21 ) card counter, ban me from the casino? Are the gaming machines constantly monitored for payouts above the norm? ( Answer: YES! ) Because, I repeat, no complicated software program ( including computer operating systems, ABM systems and your car's computer chips) is 100% fault free.

There is one casino video game that I play ( not the one referred to above ) that seems to have a following of believers in "mind over matter", and that game is "Cleopatra Keno". If the ability of players to control outcomes ( random numbers chosen ) were suspected, would gifted psychics with psychokinesis abilities like Uri Geller be banned from video game play?

It is strange, but I have noticed that "Cleopatra Keno" video games are quietly being removed from many casinos. Why?

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The following found in the Las Vegas Trip Reports Forum is typical of the Cleopatra Keno fan(atic) - the game can be very hypnotic and addicting. And this trance like mental state players succumb to would be perfect for controlling the outcomes ( If one really believes that this is possible, and even modern quantum physics is beginning to show that it really is possible!)

"I found a new keno machine I had never played before, Cleopatra Keno. This game is a blast. If the last number hits on a winning hand you get 12 free bonus spins. I must have hit it about 15-20 times in the 2 hours we were there..."

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The "Not So Legal" Way To Get An "Advantage" Over The Casino

From The Art Of Intrusion:

( Chapter One: "Hacking The Casinos For A Million Bucks" )

"There were people who had beaten the slot machines by 'replacing the firmware' — getting to the computer chip inside a machine and substituting the programming for a version that would provide much more attractive payoffs than the casino intended. Other teams had done that, but it seemed to require conspiring with a casino employee, and not just any employee but one of the slot machine techies. To Alex and his buddies, 'swapping ROMs would have been like hitting an old lady over the head and taking her purse.' They figured if they were going to try this, it would be as a challenge to their programming skills and their intellects. And besides, they had no advanced talents in social engineering; they were computer guys, lacking any knowledge of how you sidle up to a casino employee and propose that he join you in a little scheme to take some money that doesn’t belong to you..."