Jerry Park of Lake City, Michigan, won $284,648.68 when he hit the linked progressive jackpot at Little River Casino in Manistee, Michigan on March 1. Park said he and his wife Julie had played only about $20 on the nickel game when he hit it big. At first he wasn't sure what had happened, then a woman playing next to him pointed out his big win. His wife had previously played the same machine on Monday, and he felt it was a lucky one. Park works as a warehouseman and his wife is a registered nursing assistant. They said they visit the Little River casino a couple of times a week, and this is their first big win. Jerry said he plans to buy a new truck with his winnings.

Be part of Kiwi Casino's first-ever online Blackjack Tournament. There's a whopping $700 prize fund to be won on top of the already great odds offered on Kiwi's single and multi-player Blackjack tables. The winner of the tournament will claim a $500 grand prize. There's no entry fee, and KiwiCasino.com casino software is always free. Even better, Kiwi will match your first deposit of $25 or more with an additional $25 to get you started!

Click for details.

The foot-and-mouth epidemic sweeping the UK has caused all horse races to be cancelled until March 7 at the earliest. Bettors at loose ends are pouring into the betting shops and wagers are up in the silly subjects category. UK's largest betting shop chain William Hill has recently taken bets on people's life spans and babies' birth weights. Another popular bet is the British equivalent of "Who killed JR?" Bettors can put their money on their pick for who killed bad guy Phil Mitchell on the soap "Eastenders". And workaholic Steve Gledhill of Yorkshire has bet he won't take time off from his job until January 2004. If he's right, he wins $1450.

One of the most talked-about subjects in the gambling forums is the correct strategy for playing a certain game - whether it be blackjack, video poker, pai gow poker, etc. Other games exist where math doesn't come into play - slot machines, Casino War, baccarat, craps and other games - because in these games the player has no control over the result - in other words, there are no decisions to make.

When it comes to blackjack, you follow the basic strategy cards that are available everywhere to make the most of the game - what you do will either maximize your returns or cost your more money, simple as that - there are no jackpots to be had for special hands (unless you are playing a strange variation like Spanish 21 which pays bonuses for certain hands). Once you memorize the correct strategy it's just a matter of whether you hit a good streak or not.

Read the full article at Spearmaster's site, Got 2 Bet

It was a standoff in the Nevada Assembly on March 2. Health officials and anti-smoking groups faced lawyers for the tobacco industry and the Nevada Resort Association to express their views on Assembly Bill 159. The anti-smoking lobby wants the Assembly to use the bill to address the health issues surrounding second hand smoke and to create non-smoking sections within casino gambling areas. According to a spokesperson for the Nevada State Medical Association, Nevada ranks among the country's worst for tobacco related illnesses. Their opponents countered by saying that visitors to casinos are mostly smokers and cited previous failed attempts to set aside non-smoking areas. Nevada law currently bans smoking in most public buildings but allows it when 50% of a business' revenue comes from gaming operations or the sale of alcohol.

This week, The Western Village Hotel and Casino in Sparks, Nevada became the first casino in Northern Nevada to feature IGT's new EZ Payticket system. An EZ Playmachine combines a ticket printer with a traditional hopper to improve the cashout function for players. Casino operators can program the machine to pay a portion of the payout in coins and the balance in the form of a ticket. The ticket can be reinserted in other EZ Play machines, exchanged for cash at a cashier's station, cashed by attendants on the casino floor using wireless validation units, or held by the player for use at a later time. Western Village's EZ Play machines will be coin-free ticket-in ticket-out models. Player winnings can be cashed out at one of the casino's change booths, eliminating the wait for machine coin fills.

Mandalay Bay has anounced a new show, "Storm", opening March 22 in their theater. "Storm" is a 360-degree performance with no curtain. The prologue is followed by four acts that combine music and star Nature in the guise of the four elements, Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water. "Storm" is described as a of powerful sensual experience combining the best aspects of a live concert, a Broadway show and a Vegas spectacular. The show's creative team includes writers and designers who've created shows for Ricky Martin, Madonna and Britney Spears.

The Georgia Senate voted March 7 to ban video poker throughout the state. The bill is the result of legislators seeking to more closely regulate the state's video poker industry which has mushroomed since neighbouring state, South Carolina, banned the machines. Senators voted 42-2 to ban all machines that pay out in cash or prizes except games such as pinball machines.

In typical midwestern fashion, we enjoy getting away from the miserable weather by visiting Las Vegas three or four times a year. We became firm believers in the strip slot clubs and on a trolley excursion up and down the strip one day many years ago (when our trip budget was maxing out), we signed up for major casino clubs. Ever since then, we have been on their mailing lists and receive great room rate offers and promo information on a regular basis. We particularly love the Mirage where the slot hosts are wonderfully friendly and not intimidating to us of the "wet-behind-the-ears club". Also - we have learned to turn our days around - sleep in very late, then hit the pool or shopping or just enjoy relaxing in the gorgeous room. Then start our video poker/slots session around 10 or 11 at night and play until the wee hours of the morning. Casino is not crowded, drink service is great and the casino staff is extra friendly because it's not hectic. - K. Cole

Send your trip reports to .

INTERCASINO - The world's first, and largest, online casino.
WINNERONLINE - Games, giveaways and gambling info. All free.
THE WIZARD OF ODDS - Strategy, advice, probabilities and more.
BINGO GALA - A new standard for online bingo!
VEGAS USA - $30 FREE CHIPS and the Fastest Payouts on the Net! No download required.

Last week a couple friends and I visited the Riverboat Casino in New Westminster, British Columbia. While this casino is definitely not on the scale of what you'll find in Las Vegas, the atmosphere was casual and the games enjoyable. The place was packed and you had to take a ticket to get on a $5 blackjack table.

I'm usually a blackjack player but for a change of pace I decided to try my luck at baccarat. Truthfully, I found the game kind of boring! Plus I lost a hundred bucks (Canadian dollars, that is). Next time I'll be back at the blackjack tables.

Speaking of blackjack, check out the Blackjack Tournament at Kiwi Casino if you get a chance. It looks like a lot of fun.

Your editor, Steve Johnson,

See you next week!

Gambling Newsletter is published weekly by ALI Online Inc. It is sent only to people who have subscribed to receive it via our Web site or one of our partners' Web sites. To UNSUBSCRIBE, go to https://enewspaperbd24.com/unsubscribe.htm

© 2024 ALI Online Inc. All rights reserved.