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State-Of-The-Art Service Picking Up del Lago’s Casino Revenue Slack

In the increasingly competitive New York casino market, properties will do anything to stand out. For example, Resorts World Catskills touts its partnership with casino software company IGT. As part of the deal, the casino utilizes many state-of-the-art products, like IGT’s Cardless Connect program.

Meanwhile, del Lago continues to struggle when it comes to casino revenue. However, its partnership on the hotel side is bringing in the room service bucks.

del Lago’s Intelity technology puts the casino resort at guests’ fingertips

The general approach to casino hotels in the past was to keep the patrons out of their rooms and on the casino floor. However, the hotel industry has come a long way over the years. Now, casinos like del Lago tout their resort amenities as much as their Roulette table.

With that in mind, del Lago utilizes both the Intelity ICEapp and ICEbedside tablets. This technology puts those resort amenities in the guests’ hands. Christina Paolelli of del Lago elaborated on what kinds of things the app and tablet offer:

“We believe strongly in the digital guest experience, which includes offering a mobile app so guests have easy access to information everywhere during their stay, and keeping that app front-and-center in guestrooms. With ICEbedside tablets strategically located on night stands, we are making it extremely convenient for people to order room service, request valet service, ask housekeeping for an extra pillow, make a restaurant reservation, schedule a treatment and much more. ICEbedside even gives guests control some of the in-room technologies, like lights and the TV.”

So far, the casino estimates the Intelity technology has brought in around $25,000 in additional room service charges. Additionally, they estimate approximately 10,000 customers engage with the technology each month.

Casino revenues for first year $100 million below expectation

The money the Intelity software generates certainly helps the casino. The del Lago casino revenues for its first year of operation came up $100 million short of projections.

Admittedly, $260 million in revenue the first year was a big goal. However, with the casino only bringing in $160 million, people are certainly nervous about the property’s future.

At least del Lago knows it is not the only casino struggling. Both Tioga Downs and Rivers Schenectady came up short on revenue expectations. Resorts World Catskills, meanwhile, had an unimpressive debut earlier this year.

Casino management at del Lago does seem to think the hotel will help turn the tide. The hotel only opened last summer, so the first few months of operation, the casino struggled with no housing for guests.

Now that the word is getting around about the state-of-the-art amenities at the resort-style hotel, the hope is Year 2 sees that boost carry over into the gaming revenue side as well.

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In An Instant, And With A Mystery Box, Golden Nugget Can Change Your Weekend

A box is just a box. Nothing much to it, and obviously no reason to get excited about a few pieces of cardboard.

But what if it’s wrapped in shiny paper with a big red bow, and a tag on the front has your name on it? And what if it was just handed to you as a surprise? Well, now the box is more than just a box. It’s a mysterious gift that, once opened, adds just the right amount of excitement and sweetness to your day.

Lucky for you, that’s what Golden Nugget promises with its Mystery Box Weekend. From now until Sunday, March 25 at 11:59 p.m., you have the chance to get a surprise NJ casino bonus offer from Golden Nugget.

How to reveal Golden Nugget NJ’s Mystery Box

Now, the great thing about a surprise mystery gift is that you didn’t have to do a lot to receive it. In fact, there’s usually not a lot of trickery involved. The same applies to Golden Nugget’s Mystery Box promo.

All you have to do is log in to your account on GoldenNuggetCasino.com or open a new account with our exclusive link. Then do the following:

  • Visit the Promotions page and find the Mystery Box Weekend promo.
  • Click on the image of the box on the promo page to reveal your surprise mystery bonus offer and bonus code.
  • Go to “Available Bonuses,” enter the bonus code, and make a deposit of $20 or more.

And the mystery gift will be credited to your account automatically. Pretty sweet, right? But what the mystery gift might be is, of course, a mystery. You will have to log in, opt in, and open the box to reveal Golden Nugget NJ’s mystery gift.

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What else you need to know

Is there a catch to this NJ online casino promo? Not really, but there are a few rules to keep in mind.

Just as you receive one gift that you can open just one time, the bonus offer (whatever it might be) can only be claimed one time with a single deposit of $20 or more. There is also a wagering requirement tied to the mystery box of 10x the bonus. If you receive a $50 bonus, you will be required to bet $500 ($50 x 10) before the bonus money and any winnings can be withdrawn.

Games you choose to play also contribute differently to the wagering requirement, but there are so many NJ casino games online at Golden Nugget — 502 as of this writing— that you won’t have any problem finding a favorite. Slot games contribute 100 percent to the wagering requirement, except for the following games that count 20 percent:

  • Bloodsuckers
  • Vampires vs. Werewolves
  • Starmania
  • Wolfpack Pays
  • Golden
  • Monster Wins
  • Jack and the Beanstalk
  • Jack Hammer 2
  • Medusa II
  • Secrets of Atlantis
  • Spin Sorceress
  • Steam Tower
  • Wild Dodo
  • Xing Guardian
  • Diamond Tower
  • Jack Hammer vs. Evil Dr. Wuten
  • King of Slots
  • Monopoly Big Event
  • Reel Rush
  • Samurai Princess
  • Serengeti Diamonds

Table games, roulette, blackjack and video poker all count for 20 percent of the wagering requirement as well.

All that being said, there’s really no reason not to opt in for Golden Nugget NJ’s Mystery Box Weekend. You have just a few short days to claim your instant mystery reward, so what are you waiting for?

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Jaime Staples A Huge Favorite To Win $150,000 Weight Loss Bet

One year ago, PokerStars Team Pro Jaime Staples weighed in at 305 pounds. His brother Matt Staples weighed 134. Those numbers will be a lot closer come Sunday. In fact, the Staples brothers are hoping there is only a one pound difference that separates them.

The #UltimateSweat Challenge culminates in a potential $150,000 payday this weekend as a result of a prop bet made with Bill Perkins last year.

Staples has been open and honest about his weight-loss journey — a journey that included his brother, a structured plan, personal trainer Mike Vacanti, and an entire poker community cheering the Staples brothers to victory.

The #UltimateSweat Challenge

On March 26, 2017, while taking part in a series of live streams aboard the StreamBoat in the Virgin Islands, Perkins gave the Staples brothers a “life-changing moment.”

While talking about prop bets and other shenanigans, a Twitch viewer mentioned in the comments that it would be “crazy” if the Staples brothers weighed the same amount.

Perkins immediately jumped on the suggestion. He offered Jaime and Matt 50:1 odds on a $3,000 bet that they would be within one pound of each year in one year’s time.

The offer was accepted, and soon after they traveled back to Vienna and had to weigh in at a park because their place didn’t have a scale. The scale would become their new best friend for the next year.

Balancing the scale

It’s a mistake to think Jaime had to do all of the work. Matt had an equally challenging task. To win the bet, the brothers estimated that Matt would have to gain about 40 pounds and Jaime would have to lose around 130.

Staples talked about the origin of the bet and how it had already changed the direction of his life in the first #UltimateSweat Challenge update.

The year-long weight-loss journey

Over the past year, the Staples brothers have been streaming and vlogging across the globe making five different countries their home away from home for a short while.

A challenge like this is difficult when the conditions are perfect. The fact that Jaime and Matt were able to keep their eye on the prize while working and traveling is pretty impressive.

Staples made a point of posting consistent updates throughout the year on his YouTube Channel. The first month and a half, the brothers were tackling the challenge on their own. Then they brought on their trainer, Vacanti.

Vacanti immediately put Jaime on a nutrition plan that included 120 grams of protein, 80 grams of fat, and 40 grams of carbohydrates for a total of 1200-1500 calories. While the majority of the work was around nutrition, there was a regular workout routine added to the grind.

Matt ended up gaining more weight than initially thought, with a 3,500 calorie plan. The additional weight that Matt gained makes Jaime’s side of the bet a bit easier.

You might think Matt added weight with a healthy nutrition plan. You’d be wrong. He ate whatever he could to add pounds while making gains by adding muscle to his frame through strength-training.

Both of the plans were designed to maximize the possibility of matching weights while providing a path to healthy and more realistic goals for each brother at the conclusion of the bet.

Earlier this month, Vacanti sat down with the Staples brothers and did a Q&A to talk about some of those goals.

Bill Perkins and weight-loss prop bets

The Staples brother’s final weigh-in follows on the heels of another weight-loss prop bet issued by Perkins.

Perkins was a guest on the Two Plus Two Podcast when he challenged Adam Schwartz to a $25k freeroll if he could lose 80 pounds in ten months. There was a catch, though. Besides weighing in at 150 pounds on Jan. 1, 2018, Schwartz had to weigh-in at 150 pounds for the following eight consecutive weeks to collect.

On Feb. 26, Schwartz successfully weighed in at 150 pounds for the eighth time and collected his winnings.

Schwartz said in a tweet: “Originally motivated by $. I can say now, the money isn’t important. If you’re unhappy with your weight/health, take that 1st step. I have a new life and you can too!”

In the end, money alone can’t buy a healthy life, but it can be a motivator. Chances are Perkins made these bets with Schwartz and Staples brothers, not to make money, but to encourage positive lifestyle changes.

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Watch the Staples brothers weigh in and win

The official end to the year-long challenge is taking place March 25 at 5 p.m. via a live stream from Run It Up Reno in Nevada. Just five pounds separate the brothers, and they are odds-on favorites to collect $150,000.

As we saw during his weekly weigh-ins earlier this year, Schwartz was able to use different tactics to get to 150 pounds each week. Saunas, salt baths, water loading and other tactics are often used to get athletes down to fighting weight.

While we don’t know what’s in Vacanti’s bag of tricks to make sure the brothers are within one pound of each other, everyone believes it will happen. Even BetStars believes it. The online sportsbook is laying 1/50 odds that the brothers will be on the right side of the scale.

You can tune in live to see the final results on Jaime’s Twitch channel.

What’s next for Jaime and Matt

Needless to say, the focus this last year for the Staples brothers has been to meet somewhere in the middle of their two starting weights. Once they achieve that, and they most likely will, they will begin to plan their next set of goals.

One thing is for sure, continuing a healthy lifestyle tops that list. And another thing you can count on is you will hear about on their vlog or streams.

Lead image c/o Jaime Staples Twitter

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Parx Casino Big Stax XXIV Weathers the Storms as Big Names Show Up to Play

The eight-event, three-week long 2018 Parx Casino Big Stax XXIV came to a close on Wednesday after weathering a couple of nor’easters along the way.

It is home to some of the best-known names in poker, mainly claiming Pennsylvania as their home. Those names came out to show support for their hometown PA casino and stake claim to their share of the prize money.

If you are a poker fan, then the Parx Poker Room is where you wanted to be this past month. Just a few of the players wandering around the poker room included:

  • Scott Blumstein, World Series of Poker Main Event Champion
  • Matt Glantz, WSOP Circuit Champion, and Producer for Poker Night in America
  • Greg Weber, WPT Borgata Main Event Runner-up
  • Christian Harder, PokerStars Championship Bahamas Champion
  • Joseph Palma, Big Stax 300 Champion from Series XXII and XXIII

Arkadiy Tsinis wins Parx Big Stax XXIV 2500 Main Event

Day three of the three-day Parx Big Stax XXIV 2500 Main Event began with the unofficial final table already set.

Arkadiy Tsinis started the day off strong and remained in control until the very end. He eliminated five of the final eight players to give him a nearly 9:1 chip lead going into heads up. Ryan Tamanini couldn’t get anything going, and the chip deficit was too significant to overcome.

Tsinis has over $1.7 million in live tournament winnings, according to Hendon Mob. The WSOP bracelet winner has been on a heater of late and just last November he earned three rings within two days at the WSOP Circuit Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, Nevada.

His recent results are not too bad for someone whose Twitter profile describes him as a “retired poker and backgammon player making my foray into fashion.”

The Parx Big Stax XXIV $2500 final table results:

  • 1st: Arkadiy Tsinis ($77,053)
  • 2nd: Ryan Tamanini ($49,210)
  • 3rd: Abe Faroni ($31,714)
  • 4th: Nick Lee ($23,121)
  • 5th: Brett Apter ($17,341)
  • 6th: Ron Sims ($10,167)
  • 7th: Aaron Mermelstein ($13,109)
  • 8th: Ryan McKnight ($7,664)
  • 9th: Keith Morrow ($6,580)

Greg Weber and Anthony Garofalo Co-Champions of Parx Big Stax XXIV 1500

It’s not often to see co-champions in a poker tournament. The goal of every tournament is to be the last man or woman standing. Even when deals are made, there is usually the title, trophy and some prize money left in the middle for players to battle for.

Greg Weber and Anthony Garofalo were heads-up in the $1,600 buy-in Parx Big Stax XXIV 1500. Being close to even in chips, the two players agreed to a deal that included the co-champion designation.

Even so, Weber, whose success in this series over the last few years has been more than impressive, negotiated a bigger paycheck ($104,233) and will be recorded as the first-place finisher in the official record book. Garofalo pocketed $97,521 and shared the winner’s photo with Weber.

The Parx Big Stax XXIV 1500 final table results:

  • 1st: Gregory Weber ($104,233)
  • 2nd: Anthony Garofalo ($97,521)
  • 3rd: Joseph Palma ($51,043)
  • 4th: Christian Harder ($37,311)
  • 5th: Joe Reddick ($27,956)
  • 6th: Jason Deane ($21,063)
  • 7th: Justin Liberto ($16,194)
  • 8th: Aaron Overton ($12,473)
  • 9th: Scott Blumstein ($10,012)

More event winners

One of the reasons why the Parx Big Stack series is so popular is it hosts fun events such as the $5K Survivor and the Double Black Chip Bounty that provide players with an opportunity to earn some serious cash.

Unfortunately, due to a slew of storms that paid a visit to the East Coast this past month, the $5K Survivor event was canceled. But the Double Black Chip Bounty played out with Brandon Vescio-Bermender earning $6,746 for the win plus a few bounties along the way.

Moving on to the Big Stax XXIV 300 event, after nearly seven and a half hours of three-handed play, the players agreed to an ICM chop. Justin Liberto found himself with a slight chip-lead at the time of the chop, which earned him the title.

Here is how things stood at the time of the deal:

  • 1st: Justin Liberto with 26,500,000 chips earned $79,169
  • 2nd: Vinny Pahuja with 25,500,000 earned $79,169
  • 3rd: Kevin Grabel with 16,100,000 earned $69,598.00

Big Stax XXV coming in May

The Big Stax series is a massive draw for the Parx Casino poker room, and they are already making plans for Big Stax XXV in May. Stay tuned to the Parx Casino website for the official schedule which will be available soon.

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