BJ21.com Newsletter
December 28, 2007    071228

Presented as a public service by 
BJ21.com, the leading source of accurate information about casino games and conditions.

Compiled by Al Rogers
 Al@bj21.com


Palazzo's soft start delayed -- County inspectors testing systems; permits not issued yet

LAS VEGAS - The soft opening of the Palazzo scheduled for today is being pushed back while Clark County inspectors continue to test fire and other systems throughout the property.

Minicasino workers fight for paychecks


LAKEWOOD, WA -Workers at Happy Days Casino in Lakewood filed 38 complaints with the state Department of Labor and Industries today about not receiving paychecks, the latest problem to hit the minicasino struggling to keep its business license.

Hearing Is Set On Foxwoods Union Vote

The National Labor Relations Board will hold a hearing next month to determine the validity of the union vote at Foxwoods Resort Casino on Nov. 24.

Dealers OK union -- Caesars Palace workers vote by 3-to-1 ratio for representation

LAS VEGAS - Members of the dealers union organizing committee at Caesars Palace were all hugs and smiles early Sunday morning after their colleagues voted by a 3-to-1 ratio in favor of union representation.

Vegas Tropicana lucky it's in Nevada, not Jersey

The move this month by New Jersey regulators to deny a license to Columbia Sussex to operate the Tropicana casino in Atlantic City is both a stark reminder of the unique demands of the casino business and a cautionary tale for newer entrants.

Harrah's can chase high rollers or stay midmarket

With new Strip resorts competing for the high-end market, the world's largest gaming company is faced with a momentous decision: whether to join the chase or do what it does best - cultivate middle-class gamblers who prefer frequent casino incentives over opulent surroundings.

Las Vegas proves immune to jittery U.S. economy, but not casinos elsewhere


NEW YORK -  The sparkling gambling palaces that line the Las Vegas Strip are designed to disconnect visitors from the realities of ordinary life.

Obama's gaming give, take -- Candidate accepts industry's money, still expresses concern

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama enjoys poker and blackjack, and admires the way the gaming industry powers Nevada's economy.

Big Ten to probe into referee's alleged history of bankruptcy, abuse

CHICAGO -- The Big Ten Conference said Thursday that it will delve into a further background check on referee Stephen Pamon, a day after a Yahoo! Sports story came out which said Pamon has a history of bankruptcy, casino gambling, child abuse and allegations of sexual harassment.

Thanks to Green Chip member Joliet Jimmer for submitting this link.

Casino Surveillance Tops Federal Job Growth List

New research suggests that getting a job in the casino industry may not be a bad idea. Gaming surveillance jobs are expected to jump 34-percent in the next eight years.

Thanks to Green Chip member Flatpick for submitting this link.

Mo. casinos want to toss loss limit

KANSAS CITY, MO - Missouri voters might get to decide whether to lift the state's casino loss limit under an initiative filed by a coalition of gambling companies.

Editorial: Check on gambling

Illinois should require every person entering a casino to be carded for identification. The Illinois Gaming Board is considering such a measure now. We can see no practical drawbacks -- and a whole lot of pluses.

2007: A gambling year to remember

To the dismay of technologically savvy gamblers, officials at Pinnacle, a prominent offshore sports book, opted to pull out of the U.S. market in January largely as a result of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Las Vegas sports bettor/quipmeister Jeff Jones wasn't fazed. "There will still be offshore sports betting for Americans," Jones said. "It will just be off the shores of Lake Las Vegas, Lake Mead and Lake Tahoe."


The Bear Growls


Long-time Las Vegas-based advantage player, casino critic, and frequent BJ21.com contributor LVBear offers his opinions on things that sometimes go wrong in the world of casinos.  Current and past growls can be read and comments posted at LVBear's website, TheBearGrowls.com


Weighing the Odds in Sports Betting by King Yao

Sports betting can be attacked intelligently. Smart sports bettors do not gamble the same way as tourists play roulette or retirees play the slot machines. Instead, smart sports bettors are making bets that they have thought through carefully with supporting logic and/or research. The purpose of this book is to give you tools to succeed at sports betting, to show you how to evaluate, compare and view sports betting from an analytical perspective, not from a gambling perspective.

The price is $19.95 plus shipping (plus sales tax if sent to a Nevada address).  Click here to order.


BJ21.com  Blackjack, Poker, Craps, other casino-related free message board and Green Chip membership

If you are serious about beating casinos, you like to talk about it once in a while. You like to discuss strategy, and you like to discuss what is going on in casinos you plan to visit. If you are like most of the gamblers of the world, your family and neighbors and coworkers prefer to talk about things other than casino games. If you want to broaden your circle of friends to include more people willing to discuss real casino winning principles, Green Chip is for you.

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Green Chip members receive complimentary three-month memberships to Blackjack Insider, a blackjack newsletter published monthly by e-mail since 2001, and to  The Dice Institute's   Members Only Forum and Message Board.


Current Blackjack News

On the 1st and 2nd of every month, a couple dozen Pi Yee Press reporters visit casinos around the United States to check on the blackjack rules and playing conditions. Five of those reporters split up Las Vegas and visit every casino in town. Any changes in rules and playing conditions that they find, they email to the CBJN editor, who compiles them into a newsletter that is published late in the afternoon on the 3rd. That report is available as a single issue, your choice of e-mail or regular mail. The price of a single issue is $12 for electronic or $15 for regular mail.  Sample issue of  Current Blackjack News.

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