Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Mid-South area casinos have 'end of world' parties, looser slots and more


Heard it on the River

by Rudi Schiffer

(published in the current issue of Jackpot! Magazine at jackpotmagazine.com.)

I would think that a many of us hope 2013 is a lot better than the year about to end. Heck, even a little better would be fine. So many challenges remain out there that affect the casino industry and with them a lot of economic uncertainty. While the biz takes its share of arrows it is still a great source of entertainment and an effective contributor to the tax revenue bases of the communities in which it operates.
Online gaming is fast emerging, but it has legislative obstacles to overcome. As it makes headway, how much impact will it have on existing and traditional markets? It is an interesting development that will be closely watched.
If there is one thing the gaming industry has, it is resilience and a strongly developed sense of competition. Nobody is closing its doors in Mississippi and none are expected. Look at the success of Southland PARK Gaming & Racing in West Memphis, which turned an aged dog track into a casino that has enjoyed great success in tough times.
I feel a modest turnaround is coming. Let's face it, people love to gamble and with an uptick in the economy, the number of gamblers will increase. Gambling money is highly discretionary and has undergone lots of pressure the last several years. My gut feeling is that 2013 will be a better year, not back to the salad days of yesteryear, but forward moving at least. Ask me about my thoughts next December.
Poker players are not worried about the state of the business, just thinking about tournaments like the WINTER POKER CLASSIC kicked off at GOLD STRIKE CASINO RESORT on Dec. 14 and is running through the 22nd. Poker Room Manager Karen Kaegin says the main event will be a $750 +$50 buy-in with nightly no-limit tournaments and daily super satellites. While the tournament is running, non-poker gamers can get in on the $1,000,000 FREEPLAY promo running through Dec. 22. And in the spirit of the season, you are invited to bring the kiddies for free photos with Santa on Dec. 15 and Sunday Dec.16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Gold Strike's lobby. The kids get to eat free in the Courtyard Buffets with the purchase of an adult buffet. That means the desert bar will be raided. And HERMAN'S HERMITS starring PETER NOONE are still with us and will be performing Dec.14-15 with an OLDE ENGLISH CHRISTMAS. And if you want to escape the kitchen during the holidays, leave the cooking to Gold Strike on Christmas day and New Year's Eve. Chicago Steakhouse offers a specialty menu as does the Atrium Café.
What would you like to see in our Mississippi casinos next year. A new game, looser slots, more freeplay, easier comps, what? Email me your thoughts at goodtimesradio@comcast.net and I might put your name and suggestion in my next column. Send to me by Dec. 19 and keep your comment to about 20 words. And being the Holiday season, don't forget to tip those who serve you all year...the dealers, valets, cage folks, servers, maids, bartenders, et al. They work hard for you and tips are most welcome this time of year. Spread some cheer.
The Mayans of Mexico predicted the world would end on the 21st of this month. They must have had a heck of a calendar. So why not go out in a blaze and attend the END OF THE WORLD PARTY at SOUTHLAND PARK. There will even be Mayan dancers on the casino floor and every hour $1,212 in Freeplay will be given away. If it goes as predicted at least we won't have to file taxes next year. Reminder that Southland Park will be closed on Tuesday, Dec. 25 but will re-open the next day - like one stroke past midnight on the 25th. Nice to see somebody respects this holy day. It’s time to plan for New Year’s Eve. The New Year's Eve Big Top Bash 5 is coming to Southland, too. Dance into 2013 with DJ Crumbz spinning all of your favorite rump-shakin' music in the Juke Joint from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.  Indulge in your favorite carnival goodies for free from 9 to 11 p.m. while supplies last.  Enjoy carnival games and prizes from 8 to 10 p.m. while supplies last and ring in the New Year with champagne stations on the gaming floor. Experience the madness of stilt walkers and magicians or the creativity of balloon artists and the acrobatic skills of jugglers, to name a few of the variety entertainers who will perform from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. You can also ride your favorite carnival rides like the Nemesis 360 and the Ferris Wheel. Player Rewards members ride for free from 5 p.m. to midnight.  You must be 21 years of age or older. You can also Countdown to Cash. As the clock counts down, beginning at 3 p.m., the prizes go up every half hour until 11 p.m.  Player Rewards members using their Player Rewards cards will be drawn every 30 minutes to win free play from $50 to $600. At 11:30pm, one lucky player will win $2,013 in cash. See Player Rewards for details.  
Resorts and Bally's will both be giving away cars for the holidays. Resorts is giving away a Fiat each day from Dec. 29 to the 31st plus $20,000 in free slot play each of the days. Sister Bally's is doing much the same but with three VW Beetles. At Gold Strike you can win a Lexus IS350 playing on the Revved Up Jackpot Penny Machines.
FITZ' “Loosened Our Slots” promotion has taken hold and one-third of the slots there are tagged as such. If you are playing there on Friday nights you can get in on the $60,000å Santa's Stash of Cash from 6-10 p.m. There will be 45 winners.
HOLLYWOOD CASINO has some new slots on the floor. They include OUTBACK JACK LINKED PROGRESSIVE and IGT’s ELVIS THE KING. Elvis fans will want to check out the new Elvis slots for sure. Hollywood also offers $1 Blackjack. This is a Hollywood exclusive. Hollywood offers you the excitement of playing blackjack for only $1 per hand on select tables. Play $1 blackjack all day, every day. There is a 25-cent commission each hand to the dealer, however, so keep that in  mind.


“The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet.”
— Sportswriter Grantland Rice


LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULER!

 Listen for the latest casino news on the GOODTIMES radio show on Friday afternoon from 2 to 5:30 p.m. on 1180AM KXIQ, Memphis.