Author: admin

Casinos aren’t known for taking security lightly, but last October’s attack that left 58 Las Vegas concert-goers dead and hundreds more wounded has thrust casino security into the spotlight.

After stockpiling weapons over several days, the shooter launched his assault from a hotel suite at Mandalay Bay. He targeted an outdoor concert on the Las Vegas Strip.

In the wake of the tragic event, casino security is under the microscope. Casinos must consider more than the usual array of crimes it deals with, like cheating and petty theft. Now casinos are scrutinizing current security measures and making appropriate changes to thwart future incidents.

Because of the current public sentiment regarding security in general, casinos are also highlighting the measures they have in place. The hope is this effort will put the public’s mind at ease.

Not only do they want to keep their patrons safe, they want them to view the casino as a safe environment.

Security will be tight at MGM Springfield

Not surprisingly, MGM Springfield, slated to open in September, was recently publicizing its security department.

“We will have a safe facility,” Jason Rucker the executive director of security at MGM Springfield told MassLive.com. “There will be good parking, good lighting, (and) it’s just a good place to have a good time.”

President of MGM Springfield Michael Mathis elaborated:

“Safety and security are paramount at MGM Springfield,. I know Jason will build and lead a vigilant team of professionals whose number one goal will be to create and maintain a safe, secure environment for our guests, employees, and neighbors. He’s already on the job, building his team and developing relationships in the local law enforcement community.”

Rucker, a 36-year-old with 14 years of experience working in the security departments of various MGM properties will oversee a security department of 200 at the forthcoming Massachusetts casino. The MGM Springfield security department will also oversee nearby Mass Mutual Center that MGM now manages.

To pull it off, the security team will use a combination of:

• Uniformed and plainclothes security officers
• K-9 patrols
• The latest in surveillance technology

All of these will be used in coordination with state and local law enforcement.

Outside the casino’s walls

MGM is also hopeful its presence can have a positive impact on crime in the city of Springfield.

The number one goal is to make the casino a safe and inviting place to visit, but the security team believes it can make the surrounding neighborhoods safer.

Rucker told Mass Live that the current perception of downtown Springfield is that it’s an unsafe place to visit, particularly at night. According to Rucker, that’s unacceptable. Moreover, it will change on the day the casino opens.

“It’s the newer, safer downtown,” Rucker said.

That is easier said than done.

Springfield is one of Massachusetts least-safe cities. The city has:

• A violent crime rate three-times higher than the state average
• A property crime rate double the state average
• A robbery rate triple the national average.

Security outside the casino and in the surrounding neighborhoods is extremely important, given MGM Springfield’s outdoor public spaces and efforts to connect the casino property to other attractions in the city of Springfield.

In addition to hosting events at the Mass Mutual Center, MGM has floated the idea of a trolley line that would connect the casino to other Springfield landmarks.

As noted in a previous article:

The current proposal would seed a trolley line connect MGM Springfield with other Springfield attractions, such as the five-museum Quadrangle and the Basketball Hall of Fame. The line could also be extended to include a stop at Forest Park, home to one of the most popular holiday light displays in the state.

In order for that to come to fruition, the city will have to be safe first.

The post MGM Springfield Security Team Intends To Put Safety First appeared first on Play MA.

The first weekend of March Madness in Las Vegas is special. It’s not just another weekend of college basketball. It’s more than four consecutive days of non-stop college basketball games to legally wager on.

The games take place from the moment guests wake up until it’s time to party in the evening. Watching and wagering on all of the games is great, but the weekend is much more than just basketball.

In addition to the hoops action, the first weekend of March Madness falls during Spring Break for many colleges around the country. This year, St. Patrick’s Day also falls during the same weekend.

This is one of the busiest weekends of the year in Las Vegas. The city is packed with visitors enjoying the gorgeous weather, great parties, and college basketball action in the sportsbook.

Watching games during 1st weekend of March Madness

Watching the NCAA basketball tournament isn’t as easy as it used to be. Basketball bettors and fans can’t simply just grab a seat in a sportsbook or bar. The combination of visitors makes for a great Vegas experience but it also offers some challenges for college basketball fans and bettors.

It’s still possible to watch college basketball in most Vegas sportsbooks for free. You’ll just have to arrive early (before tip-off of the first game) to snag a seat.

That’s not always possible since some sportsbooks, like the CG Technologies sportsbook at The Venetian, reserve seats for their biggest gamblers. Some sportsbooks, like Caesars Palace, sell seats in and around for those willing to pay fees. Check with a host or players club to see if comps are available or if points can be used for a seat.

Paying to watch the games for the first weekend of March Madness isn’t new. Casinos, bars, and restaurants have been throwing March Madness watch parties for more than five years. These parties can be as simple as a chair with TV screens. Others may offer special parties with casino gaming, traditional and video games, a full bar and more. There are even private “Man Caves” for groups with multiple TVs, games, and food and drink service.

Due to the popularity of viewing parties over the years, the prices continue to increase. What started as $25 for a day of cheap beer and a seat to watch the games has turned into a nearly $500 weekend per person for many parties.

Since the per day prices this year are often over $100 per day, many of the parties only last from Thursday, March 15 through Saturday, March 17. To be fair, many tourists leave on Sunday and wouldn’t need to pay full price for a party on the last day of the weekend. Visitors will be on their own to watch the games Sunday, March 18.

Finding a March Madness party

The March Madness In Las Vegas group on Facebook is a great resource for finding places to watch games during the first weekend of March Madness. Many of the members have been to Las Vegas for the big weekend and offer insight and information on how to make the best of the weekend. They’re usually good for a little trash talking too.

March Madness parties on the Vegas Strip can be awesome but also a bit expensive.

One of the most popular parties to watch the NCAA Tournament has been Hops and Hoops at the Cosmopolitan. The Belmont ballroom becomes a hoops haven with twelve 22’x13′ HD projection screens, on-site sports book from CG Technologies, hardwood court with regulation basketball hoop, and bar games like Golden Tee. A three-day pass includes open bar and costs $475. It’s a great party but might be pricey.

The best values in Las Vegas are often found off the Vegas Strip

Hoops Central at the International Theater inside the Westgate is one of the best March Madness viewing environments. The theater has 1,500 seats filled with sports bettors. General seating is first come first served but this year they’re offering reserved seating for $25 a day. The reservation comes with one beer.

South Point has a free viewing party in their second-floor ballroom. There’s plenty of seating but it’s first come, first served and not reserved. The room has multiple large projection screens, betting stations, and some of the best lines in Las Vegas. Drink specials include buckets of beer for $16 and there’s food available.

El Cortez in downtown Las Vegas also has a free party. The Fiesta Room has plenty of general admission seats. They also have $3 hot dogs and Budweiser for hoops fans and bettors on a slim budget. The sportsbook at El Cortez is operated by Station Casinos.

The post March Madness Viewing In Vegas Takes More Than Just A TV appeared first on Play Nevada.

Just days after the announcement the online casino application process was roughly a month away, we have an official date. Applications will be up on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) starting April 16.

39 online gaming certificates available in three categories

The state will offer three different licenses for Pennsylvania online gambling. There will be 13 licenses in each category, one for each land-based casino license in the state.

The three categories are as follows:

• Slot machines
• Table games
• Peer-to-peer games like poker

Now the PGCB applications available on April 16 are not for these individual certificates. Rather, they are for casinos who plan on purchasing all three. Separately, each of these licenses cost $4 million. Those in this first round of applications can get all three for a flat fee of $10 million though.

There is certainly a possibility all 13 casinos snap up the all-in-one license package. If that is the case, the licensing application phase will only last 90 days. If that is not the case though, things will continue until all licenses are sold.

Timetable for online casino license applications

The first window for the all-in-one licenses continues for 90 days. So, from April 16-July 14, PGCB will only accept licenses from casinos interested in the whole online package.

Once that window expires, there is a 30-day window that begins. During this period, Pennsylvania casinos interested in any remaining licenses in separate categories have a month to apply for them. At this point, the cost for each license is $4 million, even if a casino wants to apply for all three.

Are we done yet? Not quite.

If there are any licenses remaining in any of the categories after the 120-day period, the pool of applicants opens up. On Aug. 14, companies outside of Pennsylvania can file a petition for one of the remaining licenses.

Just because a company files a petition does not mean PGCB will grant them a license. Rather, the petition is the first step in establishing suitability with the state. Only after the state deems them suitable can they actually get the license.

If you’re marking on your calendar, this means outside groups will be more than four months behind existing PA casinos in the process of launching an online gambling site.

If the vetting process takes even a month to evaluate an applicant, that is almost a half-year headstart for casinos which applied for all three licenses during the initial application window. All the more reason why most casinos will likely opt for the combination license, even if they think online poker is not the money maker online casinos are.

Path to online gaming launch still unclear

We have some concrete dates, but there are still a lot of gaps to fill in. These applications are not a page or two long. They are long, complicated affair that will take some time to properly fill out and submit.

Then there is the process of PGCB evaluating each application before granting a license. Presumably, this can get done during the initial 90-day window, or else PGCB would not know how many licenses remain.

Then, of course, there is the matter of actually putting together an online gambling offering, running it through beta testing, and getting regulatory approval for that site. For those on-the-ball applicants, it appears the end of the year is still the best case scenario for online casinos and poker rooms to go live in the Keystone State.

The post The Online Casino Application Process Begins On April 16 appeared first on Play Pennsylvania.

The jewel of the World Series of Poker Circuit has a date for 2018. The WSOP Global Casino Championship will take place from August 7-9, 2018 in Cherokee, NC to wrap up the 14th season of the WSOP Circuit. The guaranteed prize pool is $1 million and expects to attract both top professionals along with seasoned Circuit grinders.

How many seats are awarded?

There are 128 seats up for grabs for Global Casino Championship. The majority are reserved for the domestic side with 102 automatic qualifiers generated there. There is a total of 26 set aside for the International tour. All players who qualify for the GCC earn a freeroll into the event. Players can only qualify for a single freeroll seat.

Who gets to play?

Players qualify for the Global Casino Championship in five ways. The first three involve the Circuit. If a player wins a WSOP Circuit Main Event at a stop or wins the points championship through the series, they win an automatic seat. 2017 GCC winner Sean Yu won the WSOP Circuit Main Event at the Planet Hollywood stop in September 2016 to qualify through that method.

Fourth-place finisher in the GCC, Jesse Cohen, won the points title in the at the April 2017 Cherokee stop to earn his seat.

By the sheer number of seats awarded, the best way to qualify is by finishing in the top-50 in the overall 2017-18 Circuit Leaderboard. Josh Reichard took third in the 2017 GCC and earned his seat via the leaderboard. Reichard is currently second overall and will qualify through that manner again this time around.

Players who win a ring on the WSOP Circuit this season have the option to buy in for $10,000.

The final way to get in is also a direct buy-in of $10,000. Any player who finished in the top-100 in the 2017 World Series of Poker Player of the Year standings is eligible. 2016 WSOP Player of the Year Jason Mercier directly paid his way in for 2017 and took fifth.

Where to get points? 

The tour features 11 more events with seven domestic and four foreign. The first available stop is at Harrah’s in Atlantic City, New Jersey, which includes the first-ever online circuit ring event in the state. The Circuit then continues its around the country with remaining stops in Oklahoma, Nevada, and Baltimore, among others.

The foreign WSOP Circuit tour carries three stops in Europe and one in Sochi, Russia. Italy, France, and the Czech Republic are the three European nations.

Harrah’s in New Orleans, LA is the last domestic stop and runs from May 10-21.

How big will the field get?

2017 featured a field of 124 entrants into the Global Casino Championship. Sean Yu’s win extracted $296,941 from the $1,090,000 prize pool. The first GCC brought in 126 entrants and Frenchman Said El-Yousfi took home $343,256.

Who has already qualified?

The breadth of the WSOP Circuit hits all parts of the country. Top pros travel to their local stops and come home with a seat. Former WPT World Championship winner Keven Stammen won the Main Event in Potawatomi, WI last month. WSOP bracelet owner Kyle Cartwright picked up the IP Biloxi Main Event ring in September 2017.

Dan Lowery earned two seats already, but can only use one. Lowery won the Casino Champion title in Lake Tahoe and followed that up with his sixth ring in the Choctaw Main Event last November.

Where to watch? 

The 2017 GCC aired on ESPN but no formal broadcast partner has been announced for 2018 just yet. Stay tuned to all WSOP news for updates on that detail.

The post 2018 WSOP Global Casino Championship Announced With $1 Million Guaranteed appeared first on .

It was the biggest month in the history of online gambling in New Jersey. And that’s despite the fact that there are only 28 days in February.

The post NJ Online Casinos Post New Revenue Record Of $22 Million In Just 28 Days In February appeared first on Online Poker Report.

A poker pro is willing to risk being kicked out of the most prestigious poker tournament in the world in order to promote her new book. An upcoming book entitled …

March Madness kicks off this week with the first round of the 2018 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Championship starting Thursday night.

If you can’t attend a game live and in-person, the next best thing would have to be watching the action live from Las Vegas, Nevada. Particularly because it’s the only place in the country where you can legally get in on all of the action right now.

Of course, that’s all set to change by tournament time next year with New Jersey challenging the federal ban on sports betting at the US Supreme Court level. But for now, there are few better places to post up during the Madness than a Las Vegas casino.

Obviously, Las Vegas casino sportsbooks offer some of the best seats in the house. However, those who like to grind while they gamble on the games might find an even better one in the poker room. In fact, there are a few Las Vegas poker rooms that sit in close proximity to the property’s sportsbooks, making them the best places to play poker and watch the games simultaneously at tournament time.

Here’s our list of the top four places to play poker in Las Vegas during March Madness. Plus, a few reasons why each made the list this year:

Westgate

Just a block off the Las Vegas Strip, the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino (formerly known as the LVH– Las Vegas Hotel & Casino) is home to Las Vegas’ best sportsbook by a country mile.

In fact, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook is considered the world’s largest race and sports book. It features the world’s largest indoor LED video wall at 240 feet wide and 20 feet tall. Plus, there’s a bar inside the sportsbook with video poker and a food court right behind it.

After a two-year hiatus, poker was brought back to the Westgate in the summer of 2017. A modest six-table room opened where the sportsbook’s fan cave once stood. That means the Westgate poker room is practically inside the famous Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.

The action is on the low-limit side, with a $1/$2 No-Limit Hold’em game probably the biggest you’ll find. However, it’s bound to heat up during tournament time. Plus, there’s probably no better poker room/sportsbook combination around where you can book room for under $120 a night.

Bellagio

The Bellagio poker room is perhaps the most famous in Las Vegas.

The 40-table room regularly hosts World Poker Tour events. Plus, some of the best players on the planet play in some of the biggest games in the world inside the legendary Bobby’s Room in the back.

No-Limit Hold’em action ranges from $1/$2 blinds to $10/$20 and higher. Plus, it’s one of the few rooms on the Las Vegas Strip where you’ll find decent mixed game action and all kids of games other than Hold’em are spread.

There’s eight 32-inch television monitors and eleven 42-inch plasma TV screens spread around the room to watch games on. Plus, the property’s 5,600 square-foot sportsbook is right beside the poker room.

The book boasts 99 individual racing monitors, seven big screens for racing, six large screens for sports, 38 sports bar flat screens plus other screens in strategic spots throughout. Plus, there’s a lounge area with leather seats and cocktail service.

A room this weekend will probably run you upwards of $250 per night. However, you might be able to find a poker room rate by calling ahead.

Caesars Palace

A 2014 renovation saw Caesars Palace move its poker room from a hidden space in the back to a spot on the gaming floor right beside its sportsbook.

The 4,500-square-foot casino poker room features 16 tables with free upgraded Wi-Fi and USB charging ports at each seat. The action is going 24 hours a day at a variety of stakes and is sure to heat up during March Madness.

The Caesars sportsbook itself is a sight to see and one need only take a single step out of the room for a clear view.

There are six 12-foot by 15-foot screens, a 20-foot by 50-foot LED board and twelve 50-inch plasma screens for game viewing. Plus, there are 12-inch flat screens at every table and a bar with its own variety of screens.

Additionally, the Forum Food Court is just a stone’s throw from both the poker room and sportsbook.

The sportsbook has 140 seats and 65 private booths for when you want to take a break from poker. However, you may have to pay to reserve a seat.

Rooms are going for upwards of $180 a night during March Madness opening weekend.

Wynn Las Vegas

True high rollers, or those who like to feel like one, will probably enjoy the March Madness/Las Vegas poker experience best at Wynn Las Vegas.

Wynn Las Vegas moved poker operations into a new luxurious 8,600-square foot locale across from the Encore Players Club in 2016.

The room features 28 tables, including a four-table high-stakes area, and its full of high-end amenities. There are thirty-seven 65-inch high-definition televisions for game watching and plenty of places close by to get in on the action.

The Encore Race and Sports Book is just across the way. There’s a sports-betting window in the poker room. Plus, it’s not too far a walk to the Wynn Race and Sports Book and its 1,600-square-foot wraparound LED video screen.

It’s going to cost you upwards of $287 per night to book a room at the Wynn this weekend, but a five-star luxury experience awaits those willing to pay for it.

Lead image courtesy of the Westgate.

The post Where to Play Poker in Las Vegas During March Madness appeared first on .

The controversial anti-regulated online gaming Nevada attorney general has officially thrown his hat into the ring for governor. Republican Adam Laxalt announced Tuesday that he filed paperwork seeking to become …