BJ21.com Newsletter
March 29, 2007                                0713

Compiled by Al Rogers
 Al@bj21.com

NETELLER Announces Service Changes to Canadian and Turkish Market

Cessation of Canadian transfers to gambling merchants: the Group will cease processing online gambling related transactions for Canada-resident customers with effect from 12.01 AM MST Monday 9 April 2007.

Online Gambling Gone Wild: U.S. Crackdown Sparks Offshore Boom

Far from slowing its growth, a government crackdown on online gambling has sent many sites offshore, and many others underground. But it's a good bet that Internet poker will remain a booming industry.

Atlantic City casino dealers to form union

The parent company of Caesars Atlantic City has decided not to challenge a vote by workers to form a union, granting casino dealers in Atlantic City their first union in 25 years.

MGM Mirage official to lead panel studying Nevada's judicial system

MGM Mirage Senior Vice President Paula Gentile will lead the 33-member commission that is charged with improving Nevada's judicial system.

Bill Protecting Casino Dealers Advances

Casino dealers worried about revenge from angry gamblers would be protected under a bill that won approval Tuesday in a House committee.

Gambling bill passes Kansas House, on to Senate

Casinos in four areas and slot machines at dog and horse tracks in three cities were approved Monday by the House, giving supporters of expanded gambling hope that they could end 15 years of legislative failures.

Sands Corp.'s lawsuit against Sun dismissed

District Court Judge Michelle Leavitt on Monday dismissed an amended defamation lawsuit brought by the Las Vegas Sands Corp. against the Las Vegas Sun and its business editor.

Nugget, citizens: Don't dismiss Lazy 8 lawsuit

John Ascuaga's Nugget and the citizens suing the city of Sparks and Red Hawk Land Co. to block the proposed Lazy 8 casino on Pyramid Highway argued Thursday that their suit should not be dismissed.

Dealers stand little chance of keeping others' mitts off tips

How many casino dealers does it take to persuade Nevada lawmakers to protect their tips?

Reserve your seat at Hollywood blackjack tables

Among the most frequent complaints I hear from readers is the lack of $5 minimum gaming tables at casino destinations in the Chicago area.

Court must settle question of lawyers' ethics under slots law

A law that limits the ability of employees of the state gambling regulatory agency to move into casino industry jobs applies not only to top officials but to midlevel employees as well, the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission said Wednesday.

With expansion, out goes Biloxi's Isle of Capri; welcome The Isle

With its $180 million expansion, the Isle of Capri Inc. is shortening its Biloxi casino's name. Welcome, The Isle.

IRS tip: You made more, so you pay more -- Casinos and Uncle Sam wrangle as Vegas draws bigger tippers

The Internal Revenue Service believes that more than $9 billion in tips go unreported nationwide, and that Las Vegas casino workers - perhaps the largest concentration of big-tip earners in the country - are partly to blame. And now it thinks that they're earning more tips than ever, and it's ready to collect.

The Bear Growls:   Former Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn attempting to join MGM Grand board of directors

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

By LVBear
LVBear584@cox.net

If anyone somehow still had any doubt that casinos are the de facto government of Nevada, that doubt can now be put to rest.   The former governor, out of office because of term limits, is now sleeping with dogs.  Unethical dogs at that.  I hope he gets fleas.  Another embarrassment for Nevada.  Shame on Governor Guinn.

Link to news article

He said he chose MGM Mirage because of the company's reputation and his relationships with higher-ups. "It's a very, very fine company, well run, with excellent management and a very fine board," he said. "I've known many of those people for many, many years."

The folks whose money the MGM Grand has attempted to delay payment of or outright steal might not agree with Governor Guinn's assessment of the MGM Grand.

Links to information about some of MGM's Grand's previous unethical behavior:

MGM Grand and Gaming Control Board conspire to harass patron trying to cashing chips

Regulators side with gamblers in cases of confiscated chips

The Bear Growls:   Ridiculous ripoff of suckers by Hollywood Casino in Aurora, Illinois, apparently targeting sick, addicted gamblers

Link to article

...  Last week, the property began offering a service called Reservation Blackjack. It allows gamblers to phone ahead to reserve a seat at a $5 minimum table. There's a price to pay: $20 per person for each hour of play. This fact complicates the economic dynamics of the game for serious players who, depending on their level of skill, can keep the theoretical house advantage on blackjack down to around one and a half percent or less.

The idea of a tiny-stakes player being asked to pay twenty dollars for the "privilege" of losing his or her money at a casino that, according to Current Blackjack News is not even offering a reasonable game of blackjack is repugnant. Hollywood’s red-chip tables have horrible eight-deck games with bad rules and awful penetration.  This is taking such advantage of suckers ("good casino customers") that it's nauseating, even by the low standards usually set by casinos. 

This ripoff reaches a disgusting new low for piggish greed by the casino bosses.  I am disgusted that the Illinois Gaming Commission, which sometimes actually takes some meaningful action in cases of casino wrongdoing (unlike its worthless counterpart in Nevada), allows this.   What a scam!

I am all for free enterprise; the suckers simply have to say NO to this appalling bit of casino greed.  But the holders of a privileged license should be held to some minimum standards of decency and good taste.  This scam falls way, way below what those standards should be. No rational tiny-stakes player would pay this fee.  The casino is obviously trying to attract the sick, addicted gamblers with this scam.  Shame on Hollywood Aurora.

Note:  Hollywood Aurora did not respond to a request for comment.

The Bear Growls:  Did the U.S. government bully Neteller out of Canada?

Neteller’s announcement that it was ceasing doing business with Canadians makes no sense from a business perspective.  The only plausible explanation that comes to mind is that the U.S. Department of Justice, as part of its taxpayer money-wasting witch hunt against online sportsbook and casino operators, pressured Neteller into making this decision. 

The gall of the bloated, self-important windbags in the Department of Justice of interfering with an honest, efficient business operating legally under the laws of the countries it is based in is an embarrassment to public officials everywhere.  I am still wondering who is really behind this absurd attack on online casinos and the various businesses that serve them and their patrons..  I hope someday we will find out, and the creeps responsible for this interference with commerce will be brought to justice.


Poking Surveillance in the Eye , presented by BJ21.com
This eighty-two minute video contains excerpts from a BJ21.com seminar presented by a long-time casino surveillance professional. It gives tips and information on how to avoid attracting the unwanted attention of pit personnel and surveillance. Every level and type of skilled casino patron should be able to benefit from the knowledge and wisdom of the seminar presenter.

A full-time professional player commented that something he learned in the seminar changed one of his standard operating methods in a casino, and has already been validated by his avoidance of a backoff that otherwise would have occurred.

The price is $29.95 plus shipping (plus sales tax if sent to a Nevada address).  To order Poking Surveillance in the Eye, click here.

Beat the Players - Casinos, Cops and the Game Inside the Game, by Bob Nersesian

This book should be read by everyone who sets foot in a casino: average casino patrons, skilled players, casino employees, and anyone else. It should be required reading for police officers, regulators, other public officials, and attorneys who may represent any of the aforementioned.

Bob Nersesian is an attorney who represents victims of casino wrongdoing against patrons. In an enjoyable writing style, he takes a look at the often too-cozy relationship between casinos, police, and regulators. He discusses specific cases and dispenses sound, practical advice that patrons, casinos and public officials would be wise to heed. Cases discussed are from Nevada and other jurisdictions.

Chapters include: Your Money or Your Liberty; Scary Cop Statements; They'll Take Your Liberty Anyway; Gaming Agents Speak; The Take of the State; Rules for Casino Patrons; Gambling at the Legal Limits; Cops Hate Card Counters; Griffin Investigations; Casinos Cheat With Impunity; A Judicial and Government Overlay; Finding a Nickel Brings Trouble; Names and Aliases; The Security Office and Surveillance Functions, and Casinos and Cops.

Appendices include Nevada Cheating and Detention Laws with Commentary; Other Nevada Gaming Laws of Interest; Gaming Cases of Interest, and Nevada Gaming Regulations with Commentary.

The 320-page book includes a bibliography and an index.

The price is $19.95 plus shipping (plus sales tax if sent to a Nevada address). Green Chip members get their normal 10% discount.

To order Beat the Players, click here

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