Kirk Tolman, a steel worker from Salt Lake City, was playing at a three-coin Megabucks jackpot slot machine at the State Line Hotel and Casino in Wendover, just across the Utah state line, and talking to a friend when a row of Megabucks symbols came up. Problem is, he'd only played 2 coins instead of the 3 needed to win the jackpot. Tolman took home the $10,000 booby prize instead of the $7.9 million jackpot. The jackpot-that-wasn't would have beaten the previous record win of $1.3 million. A spokesperson for the casino said that Tolman looked "chagrined but not as morose as I would have been."

Dear Mark,

Does the casino base how much I receive in comps by how much I win or lose on a slot machine? Mary N.

Neither, Mary. The casino does not base its slot club benefits on your win/loss totals. True, it does keep records of when you win or lose, but comp decisions are based on the amount of money you insert in their one-armed bandits. Here's how it works. The casino will take your original buy-in, plus the winnings you have re-inserted, either by coin or credit, then figure your value to them as a patron, rewarding comps accordingly. For example: If you were to cycle $500 an hour through a 25¢ video poker machine, your total after an eight hour stint would be $4,000. With that kind of action - again, win or lose - your worth to the casino would warrant a freebie spread (of $40 and $120 depending on the casino) of rooms, food and beverages (RFB's in gambling jargon).

Ah, the Oscars. My time of the year. I watch the whole show, right from the awkward early moments where Roger Ebert co-hosts the ballgown chat to the credit roll at the end. It's not hard: I watch the show at a local pub.

Every year, the faithful start to gather at mid-afternoon and by show time the house is packed. Obviously there's beer and popcorn - they've even added prizes in the last couple years - but the real treat is seeing the show with an enthusiastic crowd. Cheers, jeers, and beers: gotta love it!

While public gambling on the event is strictly forbidden in my neck of the woods, that doesn't keep the greenbacks from hitting the table before the winners are announced on Oscar night. We thought it appropriate then to take a quick tour around the web to see what there is to see regarding betting, the bookmakers odds, and predictions for the big night.

Get the Oscar scoop at WINNERonline.

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India's one billion plus population just got their very first casino. Located on a boat moored in the waters off the exotic province of Goa, the casino features the country's most popular card game, rummy, and ten other table-based games, and eight gambling machines. The casino boat also has amenities such as a sundeck with swimming pool, a restaurant and a bar. The casino is run by Casinos Austria International of Vienna and Advani Hotels & Resorts India.

I'm no card shark. I'll never understand craps and roulette makes me nervous. But I did spend some time in the cage aboard a luxury cruise ship, so I happen to know a thing or two about casinos and casino life.

Whether you're playing online or on board, the bottom line is still the same: you play to win. And in order to win, you need to know a little bit about the game.

Last week, an 82 year old grandmother, won $1.5 million playing slots at the Showboat Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. The winner chose to remain anonymous so her neighbors wouldn't know she was new multimillionaire and young gigolos wouldn't bother her. The winner's friends had convinced her to join them on the trip to Atlantic City. While her friends casino-hopped, the lucky winner stayed put playing the Fabulous 50s slot machine. The winner plans to give some money to charity and to take a trip to Hawaii and France.

The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU) of Australia, which represents over 15,000 casino workers, is urging the government to introduce legislation to protect casino workers from enraged gamblers. Reports from the United States of gamblers shooting and killing workers and of Australian gamblers carrying weapons have prompted the union's action. The LHMU wants metal detectors installed in all casinos as soon as possible. "Our concerns are real that a casino worker could be killed if these metal detection devices are not introduced as a matter of urgency," said a spokesperson for the union.

My wife and I recently made our yearly trip to Vegas. We stayed at the Stratosphere but had little luck at their video poker. I myself spent 3 hours on a quarter machine which was "certified" to pay back 100% only to lose my money. Fortunately we found Westward-Ho a great place to play video poker. They have a nickel progressive that begins around $250. We have seen it over $600. Most nickel poker machines just pay a flat $200 for a royal flush. There are 54 machines hooked up to the progressive and they are regular draw poker with an 8-5 pay out on a full house and flush. I played on them and hit the progressive within an hour, 2 days in a row. If you enjoy video poker and have a small bankroll, this is a great place to gamble. Near this section of the casino there is, at times, live music to hear and free cookies and ice cream every afternoon. - M. Brynda

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Your editor, Steve Johnson,

See you next week!

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