I am so pissed! I just read a Christian article on the evils of gambling. Whether or not you choose to believe that Gambling is evil is up to you… but you can’t be swayed by the foolish arguments in the article I just read. I’m not going to tell you where to find the article because I don’t want trouble, but mostly because I don’t want them to benefit from my large group of readers! I AM however, going to quote extensively from the rubbish that the writer (R. Mohler) professes (and probably fully believes).

First, he states that 1/3 of the nation’s money is spent on Gambling. If you read my posts, you know that he’s dead wrong! Truth is; 100% of all the World’s money is spent on gambling! Whether you put it under your mattress (a real gamble) or put it into savings (a real gamble) or spend it (a real gamble) it’s spent on gambling. It’s a gamble when you buy a stock, bond or commodity (but he probably thinks THAT’S alright!) It’s a gamble when you buy insurance… you know what… it’s a gamble when you pick out one head of cauliflower over the others… or when you buy cauliflower at all. More than just spending your money  goes through the process of gambling… do you not think that picking your spouse was a gamble? Yes, Christians and non-Christians… EVERY single decision you make is a gamble.

He then goes on to enlighten us with this gem: “The basic impulse behind gambling is greed-a basic sin that is the father of many other evils.” Greed – isn’t that the reason we all go to work everyday????? Isn’t that the reason we “gamble” on those aforementioned, socially acceptable stocks????? If you hear someone say that money makes the world go ’round… you’re listening to a greedy person.

pass the plate again reverend….

Then he says; “The burning desire for earthly riches leads to frustration and spiritual death.” or to happiness, a full life, a realization of one’s dreams. Try THAT without “earthly riches”!

After taking us through many scriptures reinforcing his argument, he states a common mistake made by millions…

“The worldview of the gambler assumes a world of indeterminate and random chance, for which the chief virtue is luck.” As a real “bettor” knows, luck has very little to do with success or failure in gambling. Poker for instance, might make its appearance in the Olympics. IF it were a game of luck, there wouldn’t be thousands of books written on how to win at Poker, nor millions of websites extolling the systems and strategies that make one player a winner over another. More than one judge has ruled that it’s a game of skill!

This isn’t a coin toss Reverend… this is a Skill Game. Otherwise, you wouldn’t see the same faces on the final tables of tournaments. You wouldn’t know the “Odds” of one hand as opposed to another… and so forth.

It’s not the roll of the dice that makes a winner or loser – it’s how the players bet their money. A Seven is a big loser… or a big winner…depending on how you bet… no luck there! Does a successful card player know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em… yep… he’s not considering luck at all!

Here’s a great piece of nonsense: “gambling is a direct attack on the work ethic presented in Scripture. One of the constant threads through the Old and New Testaments is the dignity of honorable work, and the proper reward for labor and industriousness” Are you kidding? Thousands of hours are spent learning this craft. Certainly more than one spends on his major in a college or university. S/he must spend an equal amount of time on “unproductive” (he’s going to use that word in a minute) electives. Now THAT’S a gamble!

You can’t win any money at the track without studying the horses, the trainers, the jockeys and a myriad of other variables. What’s so undignified about learning cards through courses at MIT or Harvard? He actually then went on call gamblers “lazy, slothful, unproductive and undeserving of financial rewards”.  Then he states “offering the hope of riches without labor)” Holy Crap! I must take a break ’cause I’m pissed off!!!!!!!

k – I’m back (but still pissed off)

Gee, thanks to gamblers, there are millions of jobs in the US. Thousands of hours are spent studying the various forms of casino gambling, testing and tweaking the procedures, and perfecting their craft. If he wants to pick on the lazy, he must look elsewhere (and Lord knows there are plenty of places to look).

“Gambling corrupts the culture, polluting everything it touches. Recent scandals in college basketball are proof positive that gambling is not a problem limited to casinos and horse tracks.” He’s right there isn’t he… scandal is in Congress, in the Senate, in the Banks, the Oil companies, car manufactures, wall street, and politicians running for President of the United States, and on and on and on…<p>

Hey Reverend… are you running a Bingo Game?

Fund Raisers? …gambling, gambling, gambling!

“The Church had better not bet on this problem just going away.” Bet? the Church can Bet?

There are other activities that he could better spend his time on: Drugs, Alcohol, Cigarettes, etc (but counting on a wide readership (which is what this greedy reverend wants)…that would be gambling.

I hope you all hate (hmmmm dislike) Microsoft. If not for their poor (Horrible) products, then for their poor (Horrible) business practices. (Don’t get me started – ’cause it goes all the way back to their early days – read about those pirates yourself).

Now, our beloved Yahoo has decided to get into bed with the Redmond, WA bandits. They’re merging their Search Marketing with (gag) Bing!

We who love Gambling (and that really includes EVERYONE – if you don’t believe me – stop buying Stocks, Bonds, Insurance Policies, and picking your Mate) had to leave Google… and now Yahoo too!

Because of this new alliance which begins August 15, 2010, Yahoo is now pulling all Gambling related Ads. We can’t learn how to play anymore, we can’t research where to play anymore, we can’t enjoy our favorite pastime thanks to Bill and his Boys!

I don’t understand why they believe THEY should be the police, this affects much more than just the USA. Further, here in the USA there are already laws against online Gambling thanks to that poor (Horrible) ex-President Bush who snuck (yes snuck – on a late Friday nite)the uigea INSIDE a Freedom Protection Bill that the lawmakers didn’t even notice was in there.

I’ve written umpteen blog posts on the subject – please go back and get all the details. Let it suffice to say, the law is bogus, the Internet isn’t owned by the USA (thank God), there are stupid stops in place to prevent USA Players from gambling online, the powerful lottery, sports betting and horse racing lobbyists got THEIR gambling interests exempted, the financial institutions have been strapped with the responsibility to police online gambling (who do you think pays for that??? maybe the bank bailouts???), the law will be changed (sooner than later – I hope) because it’s so poorly (Horribly) written now.

The UIGEA isn’t working anyway – USA players get around it everyday. Think of the money the USA is losing. Estimates are the US Gov’t is losing $40 Billion in the next 10 years in Taxes alone. Add to that the fact that the US entrepreneurs had to move their businesses to other countries (and with it, all their jobs). Maybe they’ll move back here when it’s legal and that means more taxes, more jobs, and more money for the US Gov’t. The banks can save the money it’s costing to police CC sales.

What’s Bill and Bing, and Yahoo and Google going to do from atop their high-horses when the anti-gambling bill is revoked? They’re making a moral judgment that they may regret.

And by the way, just WHO was getting “hurt” by a marketer selling a book on how to play Poker, or Roulette, or Craps, or any Casino game? Millions of USA Players want the information and the right to read those books – they were not getting “hurt” – but they are NOW! More lost money; the authors lose, and even Yahoo loses! Why?

There are some SERIOUS addictions out there folks… but either they are legal, or the US Gov’t spends Billions of Tax Dollars on getting USA citizens off their addictions. Still, we see those products marketed everywhere we look. The notion that one will get addicted by reading one of those Gambling books is just Stupid!

I don’t know what can be done about this nonsense until the law is changed. Yahoo is getting tons of complaints now as each marketer sees his stuff removed… add your voice to the mix. Call them and let them know how wrong it is to “protect us” from ourselves. Yahoo: 1 866-924-6676

Las Vegas Strip benefits on Baccarat

22 February 2010

By Howard Stutz

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The two-week-long Chinese New Year celebration is in full swing on the Strip.

But to casino operators, a five-month stretch at the end of last year seemed like a giant baccarat game.

In 2009, statewide and Strip gaming revenues took their largest single-year tumble since Nevada began keeping record 55 years ago.

But without the figures from baccarat, the casino industry would have experienced an even worse decline.

On the Strip, where the card game accounts for 99 percent of the state’s total baccarat numbers, gaming revenues from baccarat were more than $970 million in 2009, an increase of 26.5 percent compared with 2008. The figure was the single-highest one-year win total ever reported for baccarat on the Strip, topping the $911.3 million won in 2007.

Baccarat gamblers, an estimated 90 percent of whom traveled from the Far East, wagered almost $8.6 billion on baccarat, 20 percent more than in 2008.

On the whole, the Strip’s 2009 gaming revenues of $5.55 billion declined 9.4 percent from 2008. The total amount wagered on table games, $22.8 billion, was 2.6 percent less than 2008.

Gaming Control Board Tax and License Division Chief Frank Streshley said Strip gaming revenues would have declined 14.5 percent for the year without baccarat.

“No question, (the game) helped the Strip,” Streshley said.

However, it wasn’t until August that baccarat numbers began to swing upward, Streshley said. Several months, including December, had 100 percent or better upturns in baccarat revenues compared with their corresponding months.

Streshley credited the jump to Asian high-end gamblers giving in to their pent-up demand and taking a Las Vegas getaway. The international economy kept many customers closer to home in the first part of the year. By late summer, high-end players began developing an itch.

Casino operators agree with that assessment, saying that Far East gamblers’ bankrolls helped keep Las Vegas somewhat afloat by the end of the year.

Special events, such as championship boxing, New Year’s Eve and the much-anticipated opening of the MGM Mirage-owned CityCenter gave high-end play a boost.

“If you go over to Asia as much as I do, you can see that the Asian economy is remarkably strong,” said Rob Goldstein, president of The Venetian and Palazzo resorts for Las Vegas Sands Corp. “There is a socioeconomic segment that wants to visit Las Vegas. They want to come here and we saw that at the end of the year.”

MGM Mirage Chief Marketing Officer Bill Hornbuckle said the declining value of the American dollar, along with the robust Asian economy, have created a growing base of potential Las Vegas customers on the other side of world.

Both Las Vegas Sands and MGM Mirage, along with Wynn Resorts Ltd., operate casinos in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau, which has helped create a connection with Las Vegas.

“Macau does not hurt Las Vegas. It’s helped the market,” Hornbuckle said.

And the game of choice for those customers is baccarat.

The results of the game are often reflected in a company’s quarterly earnings.

“It’s not a very volatile game in the long run, but it is volatile in the short run,” Goldstein said.

When a casino hosts a high-end customer with a seven- or eight-figure bankroll, day-to-day swings can be dramatic.

“We have to look at the game from a long-term perspective,” Goldstein said.

Because of amounts wagered, baccarat carries a large portion of the Strip’s handle and win. This year baccarat accounted for more than 35 percent of the Strip’s total gaming revenues, up from 26 percent last year, and 27 percent in 2007 and 2006.

The game has European origins, but baccarat draws the interest of high-end Asian play.

Scott Jensen, a casino shift manager and executive director of MGM Grand’s 13,000-square-foot baccarat salon, said customers dictate the pace and style of play, which is determined by bankroll.

Customers inside the MGM Grand baccarat room can wager between $20,000 and $200,000 a hand on baccarat depending on their line of credit or what’s been deposited in the cashiers cage.

Unlike blackjack, baccarat has no formula for how many hands should be dealt in an hour.

Robbie Ling, who has dealt baccarat at the MGM Grand for 16 years, said she’s seen a player go through an eight-deck baccarat shoe in anywhere from 18 minutes to three-and-half hours.

“The game has rules, but it’s the customer who sets the tone,” she said. “Over the years, we get to know the customers, their likes and dislikes, and their certain habits.”

Shifts are typically 12 hours, but Ling said she and other MGM Grand dealers have worked overtime if customers requested their presence.

Oftentimes, players will request certain dealers because they might have had a good run with a group of dealers, which is typically from three or four per table. If a losing streak comes up, players might ask for another dealers contingent.

“It’s a very customer oriented game and I personally believe we do a good job of catering to that customer,” Jensen said.

Hornbuckle and Goldstein said a push is on to attract potential players from Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Goldstein said Las Vegas Sands, which is opening a $5.4 billion resort this spring in Singapore, is looking to build its baccarat database in that region.

Baccarat, however, does not seem to hold an interest for the American gambler.

“I really don’t have an answer to that question,” Goldstein said.

*******

But I do!

There’s a stigma attached to Baccarat, and it’s all James Bond’s fault!

It’s always been his game of choice, it’s always tuxedoed, it’s always “behind the curtain”, in VIP rooms or through the cordoned off section… unapproachable, too expensive, too time consuming, and we just don’t get it!

I used to deal it, and I wrote a book from a dealer’s point of view. After reading my book “Baccarat Made Easy”, you’ll learn how the “complicated” hands are set by the house (which is of course – VERY valuable info for you!) and then it’s easy to set your own hands in such a way to give you the BEST mathematical odds of winning!

Baccarat is a very social game – interaction between players is encouraged (even helping each other with setting hands), and fully 40% of all hands result in a push – so, you can play for hours on a small bankroll.

There are mini-tables where the dealer handles the cards and these table play far more hands/per/hour than do the players in the Baccarat sections of the casinos (where the players handle the cards). So, it’s a toss-up: higher betting minimums with fewer hands – vs – lower minimums with rapid play (more hands). So, conceivably, you can play either with the same bankroll.

The roped-off areas are much more fun… watching how the players handle cards (including ripping them up – honest!) is a hoot! When it comes time for you to handle the cards – the dealers tell you what to do – it’s a no brainer.

Baccarat truly is the easiest game in the casino – read my book, then get to that table!

Today, I received the following email from one of my readers:

Dear Buzz,

I’m astounded by your free article on how to win baccarat. However, to complete the system it requires another part such as money management or whatever. Please advise.

Thank you,
Patrick Tuat

I started to answer Patrick with the usual tips and strategies re “Money Management”, when it occurred to me that the truth must be understood. I mean, it’s all well and good to talk about goals, deadlines, bankrolls, progressions etc., but the truth is:

“Money Management” is an over-rated, worthless concept.

Wow! How’s that for controversial?

Let me explain!

Money Management is a term that is bantered about in the Gambling Industry, but is greatly misunderstood.

The concept is very popular in trading, and has found its way into the arsenals of Sports Bettors.

I want to make a bold statement here:

Money Management cannot help you!

You say, “Buzz, you must be kidding! I’m certain that the concept of Money Management is very important.”

Really? Let me ask you these questions:

Will MM make a winner out of a losing proposition?

Will MM turn a negative expectation into a positive one?

Will MM make a smart wager out of a sucker bet?

The answer to all of these questions is NO!

If you’re placing a losing bet, no amount of MM will make you a winner!

All casino games are designed to make you a loser in the long run… ALL of them. So, if you were to use the common MM strategies perfectly, you might be able to last a little longer, but you’ll still lose in the long run.

Let me take this a step further… What if you were to enter the Gamblers’ Utopia; “The First Zero-Advantage Casino” in the World. You’ve found a casino that has removed the house advantages from the games.

Now, what would MM do for you?

Nothing… you’d still break even in the long run!

So, what good is MM?

You’ll be able to play longer! And assuming you don’t alter your optimum play, you’ll therefore get more comps!

The best advice I can give you regarding MM is this: Open a bank account for your gambling bankroll. Put as much money into it as you can without putting ANY strain on your life. Continue depositing money into the account on a monthly basis.

After accumulating a good deal of money in the account (400 times your normal bet at a table game, and/or 10,000 times your slot machine bet), you’re ready to take on the casino (and NOT before)!

Example: if you are a $10 bettor at the tables, then you need to have at least $4,000 in your account. If you play 25¢ slots, and you insert 3 coins at a time, you need $7,500 in your gambling bankroll.

Hang on, the good stuff’s coming…

Leave the money there, gaining interest… and get a line of credit at your casino equal to your betting session amount (one tenth of your bankroll). This way, you’re using the casino’s interest-free loan to gamble, and your money is still in the account gaining interest.

Now it REALLY gets fun…

Calculate the house advantage for your favorite game, and bet LESS than the amount you will earn in interest (PLUS your monthly deposits).

So, if you are playing blackjack at a house advantage of .05%, you expect to lose one bet every two hours. A $10 bettor would expect to lose about $20 every 4 hours of play. Multiply that by the number of times you go to the casino in a month. example: if you go twice a week, you’ll lose $40 per week or about $160 per month.

Therefore, make sure that the monthly amount of money you deposit (add the interest you accumulate PLUS the amount you deposit each month) is MORE than $160. And, for a cushion, round it up to $200.

If you win, put the winnings PLUS your monthly deposit into the account. Continue this until you double your bankroll, then double your bets. (And double your deposits too).

During a winning session, quit while you’re ahead, or put half your winnings aside and continue play with ONLY the remaining half.

Never bet money you need! Scared money NEVER wins! That’s not just a saying – it’s scientifically proven… when you need the money, or are afraid to lose it, you’ll alter your bets and your strategies to the point where you negate the advantages of any strategy.

There you go Patrick, use all the MM tricks and tips you want, but once you realize that you can’t make a purse out of a sow’s ear, turn to the safe gambling methods outlined here, and you’ll always be a Winner.

For more on money management read Guerrilla Gambling by Frank Scoblete

Guerrilla Gambling

Price: $3.95 USD

Lowest used price: $0.65 USD

and Thrifty Gambling by John Brokopp.

Thrifty Gambling

Price: $5.69 USD

Lowest used price: $6.99 USD

Now THAT’S a goal we all share: How to increase our Bankroll.

Today, I’m planning to show you how to increase your Gambling Bankroll – While You’re Driving to The Casino!

That’s a sneaky way of getting you to a website I’ve installed and a HUGE increase in your mileage. Yes, you can double or even triple your gas mileage in your present vehicle.

You know, with the price of gas rising every day, there’s an old science that’s suddenly gotten new recognition. What if I could show you a way to use 90-year-old technology to improve your mileage, improve your engine’s operation and prolong its life, clean up the environment through clean emissions, and get a $2000.00 to $5000.00 tax deduction?

This has become so popular, that I’m able to show you not one, but eleven ways to accomplish this!

REVIEWS:

Hurry over to Water 2 Gas Exposed and you’ll find the links and details to all eleven companies that are now offering plans, directions, diagrams, and step-by-step instructions to Converting Your Vehicle To Run On Water.

The plans will cost you $9.00 to $67.00 depending on the company you select.

The parts will cost you less than $60.00 – So, you can be driving a “water hybrid” car, truck, boat etc by tonight!

It’s good for your vehicle (gas and diesel, carb and fuel injection), the environment, and your cash reserve.

You gotta check this out – it’s amazing:

Water 2 Gas Exposed

Today, I’m walking you through the Casino, and I want to expose
the best strategies along the way.

First, if you want free money to play with, you can get some here:

http://www.buzzbberkeley.com/recommends/CashCow

Now that you have a bankroll, one of the first things you must
do is select your game.

But how do you do that?

If you are new to online casino games, it can often be confusing
which games to try out first. While most people who play at online
or land-based casinos for the first time already have a preference for
a couple of games, some are still unsure where to start.

Opening up an online casino or walking in to one for the first time
can be daunting. You are immediately bombarded by lists of games,
special promotions and flashing jackpot lights. The temptation will
be there to head straight into playing a progressive slot. Let’s face it,
the potential of winning a life changing jackpot is appealing to everyone.

But my advice is to stay away from the slots for the most part, but
that’s a issue for another day!

The casino game you choose to play will depend largely on your
personality, and ultimately, the type of game that you enjoy the
most, given that gambling is something you’re doing for fun as well
as money at the end of the day.

First you’ll want to look at the options. If you prefer card games,
then there’s blackjack

http://www.buzzbberkeley.com/recommends/BJM

http://www.buzzbberkeley.com/recommends/BJ$

and baccarat and if you’ve gotten my book, you know that
Baccarat is beatable, and the Easiest game in the Casino.

http://www.baccaratmadeeasy.com

If you tend towards machine-generated games of chance, you’ll
obviously head for the slot machines or the video poker machines.

http://www.buzzbberkeley.com/recommends/SlotsSys

Dice players will head to the craps tables,

http://www.winningcrapsmoney.com

and that leaves the roulette fans, arguably one of the most
glamorous casino game.

http://www.buzzbberkeley.com/recommends/RouletteSniper

If you are a Poker player and want the give and take of
opposing players instead of a machine, then you’ll want to head
right to the online poker games and tournaments.

But before you do, I strongly suggest you read the following book.
It is simply a short cut to riches!
http://www.buzzbberkeley.com/recommends/DomPoker

If you want experts to stand over your shoulder analyzing
your game as you play, you need a Poker Calculator.
I’ve compiled a list for you here:

http://www.thebuzzreport.com

Here’re a couple of Online Sites that are well known and safe:

Full Tilt Poker:

http://www.buzzbberkeley.com/recommends/FTPkr

PokerStars:

http://www.buzzbberkeley.com/recommends/PkrStrs

Having decided which form of game you want to try first, you’ll now
need to choose a table or machine. The way to decide on this is to
look at the bet limits.

In other words, be realistic about what you can afford to bet each
time. Once again this is a trade-off.

You may prefer to make small bets and play for a long time, without
much short-term deviation in your bankroll, or you may be the type
of person who wants more of a thrill from gambling, and will make
bigger bets to make it more exciting, at the risk of losing more.

The same principle applies to slots. There are many multi-line
slots available at online casinos that can be played for as little
as a penny per line. These machines offer a great way to stretch
your bankroll to the limit, but you will have to accept that your
potential wins are much smaller as a result. Nevertheless, you will
probably be able to spend a lot more time with a relatively small
bankroll.

Another factor that you should keep in mind when choosing a casino
game is what is know as the “hold” or vigorish or “vig”. This is
the house edge, the percentage that you can expect to lose over the
long run, assuming you don’t have a big win. Different games have
different hold percentages, ranging from 94 to 99 percent.

This means that on most games, you have a 1 to six percent chance of
beating the house in the short run, depending on the game you
choose.

The games with the most favorable hold for the player are craps,
blackjack, and baccarat (IF you know how to bet them – if you don’t,
read, learn, study FIRST – get to know what you’re doing BEFORE
you begin to play for money).

Games like Keno and Casino War have by far the worst hold for you.

Slots fit in somewhere in the middle. And not all slots have the
same vig. To make matters worse, each slot game and indeed each
slot machine has a strange way of changing constantly as well. A
machine with a low vig one day might have a high vig the next. These
machines can be, and are, adjusted by the casino techs as the
casino wants!

The only way to give yourself a fighting chance is to
get current odds charts that show which machines to play and which
to avoid. I’ll show you where to get those charts when we cover the
slots in detail.

If you prefer Sports Betting, then get professionals to help you make
your betting choices:

http://www.buzzbberkeley.com/recommends/NBAmo

But if you want to do-it-yourself, that is learn How-To pick winners,
and then pick them yourself:

http://www.buzzbberkeley.com/recommends/USBook

By the way, if your favorite sport isn’t covered by those above

- like Soccer [Football to you Non-USA gamblers]

http://www.buzzbberkeley.com/recommends/FtblMstro

or HorseRacing:

http://www.buzzbberkeley.com/recommends/TBStrategies

Whatever you decide to do, gamble within your limits and decide how
much you are prepared to lose, and stick to it. I’ll devote many
posts to the subject of bankroll and money management.

But today’s post is already way too long, and I’ve given you
plenty to consider for now.

I’ve had many questions from the thousands who have viewed my Videos on Craps. A surprising number of the questions are about the Casino I used for the videos, so I decided to reopen it…

BOG Casino

In addition to recording my training videos and my marketing videos there, I just enjoy playing there.

Thanks to those of you who asked, and if the rest of you have NOT been there yet… please check it out. All the great games are available, the Craps table is complete (it has Odds marked on the table – which it turns out, is a huge draw).

Enjoy your time there, let me know if you have any comments on the Casino.

How long has it been since you’ve visited Las Vegas? If it’s been more than a blink of your eye, you won’t recognize it the next time you’re there!

I’ve learned to never expect the same LV that I remember. It’s a constantly evolving city that never sleeps! I know New York claims that distinction… but c’mon, you won’t see such drastic changes in NYC that you do in LV.

In Las Vegas, it’s Hotels down, followed by Hotels up. Six hotels have been imploded there in the last 10 years. And the newer hotels can hardly be classified as hotels… that term is to be reserved for other cities. So don’t expect the great “hotel bargains” and “free stuff” of the past. They disappeared with the $.99 dinners.

LV developers today, don’t build “hotels” anymore. They install mini-cities, mega-resorts, and the ultimate destinations! The new developments include: World-Class Chefs, Uber Spas, and amenities unheard of, or offered only to the super-rich not so long ago. Now, instead of the tacky diners and buffets, you are presented with the finest restaurants in the World, and the highest levels of entertainment. It’s a different Las Vegas!

However, there are some bargains to be found if you know where to look. Explore the older places. There, you’ll still find good deals on food. You can still get a $5 steak dinner at Ellis Island on Koval Lane.

One key to finding bargains is not where, but when! Don’t go at peak times. Visit in Mid-Summer for instance. You’ll need to take advantage of the AC everywhere, but the prices are lower then. Also, a good time to visit LV is during Christmas. It’s definitely an off-peak period. Don’t confuse that however with the following week; “New Years” the prices will be right back up during that period. Also, stay away during the larger conventions when LV is packed with participants. During the Consumer Electronics Show in early January each year… the city is standing room only. If you don’t have to be there that week – Don’t! You should try to avoid weekends in LV too if you’re looking for a bargain. Mid-Week rates are also lower.

Always plan in advance of your trip to LV. Do your research, or you’ll be overwhelmed and disappointed. All the best shows will be sold out; the restaurants will be accepting no more reservations. You must make your reservations and ticket purchases ($30 – $100+) at least 7 – 10 days before your trip. To help you, most reservation desks are open 24 hours every day!

If you plan well, you’ll be treated to gourmet meals prepared by celebrity chefs. The ubiquitous buffet is gone, (although, you’ll never find a better one than at the Aladdin); the 99¢ dinners are gone. But, as always, there is no time limit to enjoy the tasty treats of LV… If it’s 3am, you’ll find great restaurants are still serving! Let me mention two still-great bargains. Not only because of the low price, but because the steak dinners are very good at the steakhouses at the Imperial Palace, and at Circus, Circus. Try them, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the existence of remnants of the past meal deals of LV!

Did I say there’re no more freebies? Not so, you can still be treated to great entertainment for free. You must see the outdoor attractions including the Volcano at the Mirage, Rio’s Masquerade Show in the Sky, and the Sirens of Treasure Island. For the cost of a drink or two, there are indoor entertainment venues that are free as well. The lounges in most Casinos have ongoing musical acts with no cover charge. Ask your concierge for a recommendation.

When you fly into LV, if you’re not fortunate enough to be met by your casino host or the hotel limo, you’ll most likely take a taxi to your hotel. Don’t let the driver take you by way of the Airport Tunnel… it’s longer by about $10.00. Tell the driver to go down Paradise Road instead.

If you’re heading for the south end of the strip (MGM Grand, Tropicana, New York, New York) you’re taxi charge should be $8 – $9. Mid Strip; $12 – $13, and north end of the strip; $14 – $15)

While we’re discussing taxis… it is illegal to hail a cab in LV. There are taxi stands and every hotel has taxi pick-up and drop-off areas. You must go to one of those. The drivers will ignore you standing in the middle of the street waving at them. Instead, get to a driveway, there, they can turn in, get out of traffic, and let you jump in. One more thing; don’t try to pay the driver with chips. They won’t take them, and they won’t take credit cards either. It’s a cash town outside of the casinos! In fact, chips are rarely used outside of the casino… for anything!

Here’s a great time saver… the Harrah’s Group will let you check in to one of their hotels… AT THE AIRPORT! Harrah’s, Caesars, Bally’s, Horseshoe, Flamingo, Imperial Palace, and Rio all offer this great service… take advantage of it!

Don’t ask for hotel amenities if you’re not registered there as a hotel guest. You’ll end up being embarrassed and worse! However, the Hard Rock Café opens their pool to everyone on Sundays (their Spa too – where you can get a massage inside or poolside for $85 – $155).

LV has become very famous for their nightlife… I’m not talking about gambling and shows… I’m referring to the nightclubs. At any one given time, you’ll find 25 of the World’s Best DJs spinning in LV. Word of caution though… don’t try to see them all! You’ll end up spending your entire evening in line – trying to get in. It’s best to reserve a spot for yourself and stay put! Especially on weekends (again) the lines are brutal! Get on the VIP list if you can (you must be well known or well connected). Tightest hours?… 10pm – 4am – Wed – Sat. Dress codes enforced. And guys… bring a girl (or more) or else you’ll likely see ONLY the outside of the place – period!

If you drive to LV, or rent a car while there, always use Valet Parking… it’s free with a tip! And when trying to get your car, remember the peak times include immediately following the end of a show when the lines at VP are longest. For the downtown properties, use the parking garages, and get your ticket validated. I remember one of the last times I rented a car in LV. The agency delivered the car to me at the airport. It was a Cadillac with 4 miles on it! Yep, only four! I drove it to Caesars Palace, unloaded it, and had it parked. When I returned the car 9 days later, it had 14 miles on it. You simply don’t need a car if LV.

It gets windy in LV… and often without warning. It’s not important unless you’re at the top of the Stratosphere, or the Eiffel Tower. They both close down in high winds. If there’s a 25mph wind, the elevators in the ET move at half speed… at 35mph they evacuate the tower, and at 40mph, they shutdown. The winds also will cause cancellation of the “Sirens of Treasure Island”.

You simply cannot do “The Strip” from one end to the other by car and expect t see anything worthwhile. There’s so much traffic on LV Blvd that it makes it virtually impossible. Again, there is a peak time: 2p – 6:30pm.

Can you walk it? Hmmm, are you nuts? It’s 120 degrees out… I told you to come here mid-summer, but I also said to use the Air Conditioning everywhere! There are many alternatives to walking the strip; Taxis, Busses, Trolley, and Monorails! But for the little jogs between hotels, always use the crosswalks. You’re one of 30 Million visitors all heading to different places. The chaos is confusing and frightening – for you and for drivers! Always use the crossovers too. They are very convenient (most with elevators) and provide the fastest way to cross the busiest streets in America! By the way, if you “Jay-Walk” you’re risking your life and a fine of $150 – $250!

While you’re walking here, you can be drinking too! The “open container law” states that you can walk and drink ON the sidewalks, crosswalks, and crossovers… BUT, don’t throw empties, and don’t take that open container into a car… that’s illegal! A bus is OK!

STOP! Read the following first before tossing that dice. It may save you tons of money and a lot of heartaches.

Many gambling sites offer several promotional incentives like bonuses, guarantees, equal winning opportunities, multiple/solo player modes, higher bet limits and a whole lot more that can be quite dizzying and makes you leap into them before looking into what they really offer.

Let’s try and have a look first before you throw down that dice and before you throw away your hard-earned money and miss out on all the fun that thousands of gambling sites offer.

There are several considerations that one must take with prudence before dealing with any gambling site.

The king of them all is to understanding their rules. Incentives are great but you play by their rules. Not all gambling sites have the same set of rules. Read them like you’re about to take an exam. Look out for the fine prints, somewhere there might be a catch 22 situation. Understand the procedures and all the transactions they have pertaining to real money.

Just like any exemplary gambling site, there is customer service support must be on top of their list. You are paying good money for enjoyment and a chance to win. They must have very excellent and professional people who would be ready to take your call and entertain any questions or complaints anytime of the day. Ask if they have toll free numbers.

Get to know the site better. You may do this by reading reviews, compare them to other gambling sites. There are also several websites that offer a listing of the gambling sites and their ratings. If you are new into online gambling you have to know that there are millions of gambling sites out there. Some better than the others.

Try out the games. Most gambling sites have features that let you get the feel of their gaming programs for free. Try asking yourself if the interface was user-friendly and very intuitive. Does it have the feel of real poker game or baccarat? There should not be any distraction like having to press a certain key or key combination while the you are in the midst of a very exciting game.

Pressing the wrong key or clicking the wrong button could cause you the game.

I run a great little Casino Site… go play there for free, you’ll enjoy the experience:

http://www.BOGCasino.com

You may also want to take a look at the support you are getting at your end with your PC and Internet connection. You may want a higher-end PC to be able to play the better games that gambling sites offer. This usually means a higher memory requirement and a better video and sound card. Internet connection must be reliable and fast.

If ever you find yourself intrigued by a new game, understand how the game is played. Do your research on the new game. Get to know the all rules and strategies. Most often than not these gambling sites provide trials and test features for new games. Better yet, post your new discovery and/or your questions here on my blog.

Those are a few tips for you to get to enjoy online gambling better, but don’t roll that dice yet! Whether you’re sitting across from your friends playing poker or sitting in front of the monitor playing black jack on a gambling site, you have to come well – prepared with a plan.

One more thing maybe a lucky rabbit’s foot would help.

So cross your fingers, and let that dice roll!

It was announced today that the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino is installing new Baccarat tables with LCD scoring visuals.

That in and of itself is new, but there is a BIG change in the payoff structure that I’ll explain in a minute.

But first, let’s examine the new tables and how they differ from the more common Baccarat table that we’ve grown to love!

Earle G. Hall, DEQ Systems Corp. President & CEO EZTRAK® tells us that his baccarat table assists Baccarat players in scoring their game with the aid of visual statistics and tracking of current and past shoe data.

If you’ve already read my writings on how to win at Baccarat, you’ll immediately recognize the added value. (If you haven’t received the 3-part series on beating Baccarat, just click here, and you can download the system – and it’s FREE)

Now, here’s the BIG difference from ALL other Baccarat tables:

They’ve removed the commission! On all other Baccarat tables, you pay a 5% commission on all winning “Banker” bets. (No commission is paid on winning “Player” bets).

So, that is GREAT news! If you’ve ever enjoyed your session at the Baccarat table, and when finished, get up to leave – only to be reminded that you still owe commissions…. You’ll REALLY appreciate this change.

Michael Patterson, Barona’s Director of Table Games said, “We’re thrilled to be the first casino in California to get DEQ’s EZ Baccarat® tables on our floor. This game innovation plays approximately twice as fast as commission baccarat, and is an overall better experience. It’s a rare win/win situation for both the player and the casino.”

Well, IMHO, that remains to be seen. Further, is speedier play a GOOD thing? (read my blog posts to see what that REALLY does to your Bankroll).

Also, doesn’t that mean that because of the (NOW) Huge advantage to betting on the “Banker” rather than on the “Player” make this a lopsided betting opportunity?

That’s a very valid question, that only time and testing will answer.

So, how does the Casino make any money if they’ve removed their only income source in the game of Baccarat?

EZ Baccarat® makes the commission disappear and replaces the taking of the 5% commission on every winning bank hand by “barring” one specific winning bank hand: a three card total of seven called the “Dragon 7®”. Players can make an insurance bet, called the “Dragon 7®” bet that pays 40 to 1 when the three card winning bank hand occurs.

hmmmmmm,

Now, I’ve not worked out the odds on this happening yet…

How Nice!… The company (DEQ Corp) has done this for us: They claim, “This modification is equivalent to taking a commission of 4,914% and will occur once every 43.4 times that the bank wins, or about once per shoe”.

OK, that sounds GREAT! We Baccarat Bettors are gaining a little, and every little bit helps!….

BUT… What they giveth, they also taketh away…

YIKES!… Also according to the company website: This change “enhances revenue from existing customers. It does not change the drawing rules of the game, yet can deliver between 40% and 60% more revenue to the casino”.

You see, they claim this “Dragon 7®” happens once every 43.3 the “Bank” wins… yet it only pays 40 – 1.

So, again according to my articles that you’ve read (I hope), there is now (on these new tables at least), an additional, sixth betting opportunity…

The Dragon 7…

… and one that, like the tie bet, I would avoid like the plague!

My review?

Again, In My Humble Opinion… bbuuuuzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! It’s a No!

If the Barona Valley Casino offers the good ol’ commissioned tables… run for them instead!

To Your Good Fortune,

Buzz B Berkeley