A US Airways flight attendant made a profitable layover in Las Vegas January 12, winning more than $9 million on the Megabucks progressive slots at Harrah's Las Vegas. Flight attendant Cynthia Malinoski of Mississausa, Ontario hit the jackpot during her layover to win $9,396,271.11. She was given a check for her first installment of $386,220.80 and she will receive checks in the amount of $375,418.80 each year for the next 25 years. The Nevada Megabucks MegaJackpot can be played at a 157 Nevada casinos.

Malinoski decided to gamble to pass the time until her next flight. She used her system of gambling; playing three to five pulls on a machine before moving to the next machine if it doesn't hit. She was just about to give up on the current machine when the symbols lined up.

So you've read about gambling online, or maybe heard it mentioned in the media, and you're gonna give it a try. Okay, on your mark, get set -- wait!

Before you venture forth it's time for a quick reality check because the road to online gambling riches is not without its potholes. Here are a few caveats to illuminate the path ahead.

1. What's a download? Why do I care?

One of the first questions you'll be faced with if you decide to gamble online is whether you want to play games that require you to download and install software -- these are called "download" games -- or perhaps you'd prefer games that simply run over the web -- called "no download" games.

This is not a small question and we recommend our own To Download or Not for further guidance on this tricky subject.

Continue reading Max's advice at WINNERonline

1) Change paper money into coinage and carry with you in a bucket to judge your bankroll.

2) How much do you bet for each max. hand? Multiply denomination by 5.

3) Play nickels to stretch your gambling bucks.

4) Ask change people: "where do the employees play video poker" to find full-pay VP's.

5) Learn how to read pay schedules; know the difference between full-pay and short-pay.

6) Learn optimum strategy for each VP version.

The Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Mississippi is preparing for this weekend's Mississippi Million Finale where one person will walk away with $1 million. The 240 participants have been qualifying to enter the finale since February 1st of 2000 through a series of slot tournaments and events. The competition begins at 8 a.m. this Saturday, January 20. The prize will be awarded at a banquet Sunday January 21. Visit the Gold Strike Casino Resort web site for more information.

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Slovenian police caught an Italian citizen January 16 using a miniature video camera and a mobile phone to cheat in a game of poker in a casino in Ljubljana, which borders with Italy.

"We had a couple of attempts to cheat in casinos before, but none of them was as technologically advanced as this one," said Ivan Maras, police spokesman. The man put a bag with a mini video camera behind the dealer so that images of the cards could be transmitted to a hotel room nearby where an accomplice advised the gambler by mobile phone via a tiny receiver mounted in his ear. The cheat was detained for six hours but the police had to free him when they couldn't prove how much money had been won by the scam. The accomplice also went free.

According to a just released study by the Canada West Foundation, charitable organizations feel uncomfortable accepting government casino revenues to fund their good works. Over 600 charities answered the detailed questionnaire. Many Canadian charities, most notably the nation wide food banks, have refused to accept the gambling money for ethical reasons. However, other organizations feel they have no choice but to accept the funding. Many are faced with the choice of accepting the money or scrambling to raise it elsewhere. Raising money at the expense of potential problem gamblers was a common concern expressed by survey respondents. Others respondents expressed concern about links between gambling and other social problems like addictions and family breakdown.

The Canadian government cut funding throughout the 1990s to numerous social and welfare programs while at the same time increasing the use of gaming to provide revenue to these programs. According to the Canada West Foundation, six of ten charities said that gambling revenue was their first or second most important form of fundraising.

My husband, and I were in Las Vegas for Christmas and New Years. There are not enough words to describe this hotel. The rooms are absolutely fantastic! We have made many trips to this city over the last 15 years, and stayed at many hotels, and have yet to find the kind of service and attention to detail given by the Venetian.

The hotel's Pinot Brasserie is small, cozy and fun to eat "outside" where you get to watch people walk by. They serve the best Chateaubriand we have ever had! The two restaurants in St. Marks Square are also fun because you can watch all the entertainment in the square. Postrio has great food and is very reasonable for a gourmet restaurant.

The final night of our trip we watched the fireworks that started at Mandalay Bay 8 seconds before 12 and worked up the Strip to the Stratosphere. The Strip was closed to traffic and filled with people as the 14 hotels up and down the strip had a fireworks display that lasted 8 minutes. The Venetian fenced off the entire front sidewalk so that we were able to stand outside and were not crammed in as they were on the Strip and at other properties. Guards allowed only hotel guests, dinner reservations and show guests in. Just another one of those details that makes the Venetian so special. -B. Planck

Send your trip reports to . If we publish your report you'll receive a certificate for 2 nights free accommodation redeemable at a number of U.S. destinations. Some blackout periods and other restrictions apply, but it's free!

Steve Bourie, author of America's #1 bestselling book on casino gambling, has developed a free web site offering information on casino news, travel, and promotions. It's a comprehensive U.S. casino directory including such topics as how-to-play, gambling tips; a discount store for gambling books, software and videos; and a slot payback section that discloses how much the "one-armed bandits" actually returned to the public.

"We put the entire U.S. casino directory from our book on our web site for free," said Bourie, "Names, addresses, room rates, toll-free numbers, buffet prices and a listing of all games offered at every U.S. casino/resort, riverboat or Indian casino in 33 states can be found at our American Casino Guide website. Plus, we have a special page of links to take you directly to each casino's web site."

BETTORS REVIEW - A site where real players voice their opinions about online casinos.
WINNERONLINE - Games, giveaways and gambling info. All free.
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ACCESS VEGAS - Vegas News and Reviews

Last weekend wasn't as lucky for me as my previous trip to Las Vegas but I sure had a good time staying at MGM Grand. I've heard people complain about MGM's machines but the slots proved quite lucrative for my traveling companions to the tune of about $700.

MGM's blackjack tables ate me alive, but I did manage to win some back at Aladdin's $5 tables playing an 8 deck game (surrender available, dealer stands on soft 17).

Back to the MGM. For an extra $10 a night I was able to upgrade to a deluxe room, which was definitely worthwhile.

If you like Chef Emeril Lagasse's cooking, check out Emeril's restaurant at the MGM. The Lousiana campfire steak, served on a cedar plank, was delicious.

By the way, my net loss on this trip was about $200. Coulda been worse!

Your editor, Steve Johnson,

See you next week!

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