Heard it on the River
by Rudi Schiffer
Lots of green present in Tunica over the recent ST. PAT’S Day celebration in the form hats, t-shirts, beads and other doo-dads, and there was lots of green money being spread among table games and slots everywhere, making for a good weekend for all. It was especially noisy at the FITZ CASINO & HOTEL, with its natural Irish theme an attractant, but playing in a blackjack tournament at GOLD STRIKE CASINO RESORT the green was in the GO FOR THE GREEN $50,000 event. PHIL HUNTER, director of casino operations, said they planned for 150 to sign up but it ended up somewhere around 180. The overflow didn’t cause any logistical problems and the team handled it smoothly.
Finally met the new GM at Gold Strike, NYKLAS RYTTERSTROM, from Sweden of course, and he has apparently fitted into his new post with little difficulty after coming over from hotel operations at Beau Rivage. He had some interesting stories to tell me about the post-HURRICANE KATRINA reconstruction on the Coast and will be the man if one hits Tunica. Anyway, look for a feature on Nyk in the next issue of JACKPOT! Magazine.
ANOTHER SIGN of the APOCALYPSE…In Vegas, CANTOR GAMING will now accept major credit cards to fund race and sports books betting accounts. They will also accept debit cards. Why not. Let’s give everybody the chance to go down the drain with stiff interest charges when they don’t pay off in time. Cantor says it’s a “fast and convenient way to place wagers.?” Whatever happened to folding money? You gotta be nuts to make wagers with your credit card. Cantor is opening the door for players to go down the drain faster than ever before. When you squeeze those “Benjamin’s” out of your wallet, counting each one carefully, you know where you are going. Signing a credit card, especially when you have lost all your stash and need more on the spot, is so easy.
Of course Cantor has the bettor’s welfare in mind. Mike Colbert, Cantor’s race and sports book risk director, said: “We are constantly looking for ways to enhance the enjoyment of our Cantor sports wagering fans. Making the method of payment more convenient marked a logical step for our Race & Sports Book.” Thanks for the reassuring words Mike. Nice to know Cantor not looking out for itself but for its players. Of course it was logical for Cantor, who now has opened a new path for gamblers to get lost on, at Cantor’s convenience. Gimme a break.
The DELTA GOLD POKER CLASSIC is on at Gold Strike CASINO RESORT and ends April 2, so there is still time to play in various daily events. An ASIAN SHOW will be on stage the Millennium theatre on April 14 and you can even access a line where you can converse in Vietnamese….(662) 529-2014. The FRONTMEN of COUNTRY will be at the Millennium on April 21. RISKY BUSINESS 3-card poker tournament has $50,000 in prize money and free play available on April 20-22 for a nice $100 entry fee. Speaking of Gold Strike, for the past two years, the casino has partnered with the Memphis Grizzlies for a benefit known as the Grizz Gala. This year’s event is Friday, April 13. Proceeds from the event go to the Memphis Grizzlies House on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s campus. Meet the players, dine on heavy hors d’ oeuvres and take part in the sports memorabilia and fan experience live silent auction. Individual tickets and tables are on sale now. Call (888) 245-7529 for more information. Scratch it Rich is also continuing at Gold Strike through March 31, so you can still win you share of $2 million.
Take the Lighthouse & Jubilee Casino Point Challenge now through April 30 at the GREENVILLE casinos and you could win big in this promotion. On May 6, the top 10 slot point earners, plus two wild card drawing winners combined from Jubilee and Lighthouse casinos will each win a trip for two to Tropicana Atlantic City, June 7-10, to compete with Tropicana Entertainment’s 300 best slot players for a shot at the $100,000 grand prize. See the cashier’s cage for details.
Play at Resorts Casino and you could be a big winner in the Cash is King Giveaway in March. There will be 17 winners of $500 cash each Saturday, March 24 and 31, from 7 to 11 p.m. Visit the service center for complete details.
Southland Park Gaming & Racing is offering new player reward members $20 in free slot play with the coupon in this issue of Jackpot! Magazine. Enjoy more than 1,000 games with over 60 new progressive titles, including Wheel of Fortune, Reel’em In and Cash Man.
Bally’s Casino hosts the $100,000 Free Slot Play Giveaway in April. There will be 25 winners of $1,000 in free slot play each Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight in April. Earn entries now through 2 p.m. on April 28.
If you like FITZ casino in Tunica, don’t go to VEGAS looking for it there. FITZGERALD, the sister property on downtown Fremont Street, has changed its name to D LAS VEGAS. The D harkens back to its Detroit roots and just also happens to be the name that friends call majority owner and CEO Derek Stevens. A $15 million makeover will spruce up the D.
Here is a great dining deal. Hollywood Casino has added the 99-cent Star Comp Dollar Deal all day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for March. Players can enjoy a 99-cent Star Comp Dollar Deal for breakfast, lunch or dinner on Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning Feb. 6 in the Epic Buffet. We’re talking about one 99-cent Star Comp Dollar Deal per day, per player account. You’ve still got time to get in on this action.
TODAY’S THOUGHT
“The longer you keep your temper, the more it will improve.”
LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULER.
Listen for the latest casino news on the GOODTIMES radio show every Friday night from 6-8 on 730 YAYHOO! SPORTS & GAMBLING AM, Memphis.
