Gaming Guru

Heard it on the River

David joins Jackpot! from the DESOTO TRIBUNE where he managed 22 troops and won a whole truckfull of statewide press and advertising awards. I won't go into all the details so check out the story on the front page of this edition if you missed it.

With the changeover, it was an opportune time to move Jackpot! back to Tunica County where it belongs and it will be more involved not only with its casino clients but with the whole community, as well. We've set up an office in CPYRESS LAKES just over Hwy 61 across from the Casino Center Drive entrance and you can find us there in Ste. 4103. Or call us at this new number, (662) 363-3637.

Congratulations to two good guys who have been inducted into the TUNICA TOURISM HALL of FAME, BOB MCQUEEN, GM of HORSESHOE, and JOHN OSBORNE, GM of HOLLYWOOD. Three GMs are now in the pantheon as DOM MEZZETTAof FITZGERALDS led the way in 2002.

On June 28, the GOODTIMES RADIO SHOW will be broadcasting live from FITZGERALDS from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. so stop by and say hello and we just might make you famous for a minute or so. We are in the house to help celebrate the casino's 9th anniversary and the $50,000 CASH GIVEAWAY that weekend where you can pick up free entries to the drawing. LITTLE ANTHONY and THE IMPERIALS will liven things up on Saturday night with free shows at 8 and 10:30
p.m. By the way, if you live in Midtown Memphis you can ride Fitz' Lucky Bus from PAT O'BRIEN'S on Beale Street for only 10 bucks to get to the casino Thursday thru Sunday at 6 p.m. First come, first served! Must be 21 or older.

HOLLYWOOD is having its own cash free-for-all with its $25,000 CELEBRITY CASH GIVEAWAY for five Saturday drawing dates starting June 21.

I made another foray into the competitive world of blackjack tournaments with entry into GRAND CASINO'S WORLD SERIES OF BLACKJACK this past weekend and the details are in an article elsewhere in this issue. Another event, GOLD STRIKE'S $100,000 blackjack tournament is on the radar screen and I will take another shot at the big money (a $50,000 first prize) on June 26-28. There is still lots of time to enter with a $500 entry fee so pony up and call (877) 245-8477 ... you can charge it.

An Ann Arbor, Mich., restaurateur, ALI DJAMSHIDI, took home first-place money of $64,000 in GRAND'S 3RD ANNUAL WORLD SERIES OF BLACKJACK. It was the third tournament he had won at the PARK PLACE ENTERTAINMENT property, having won last year at BALLY'S and THE HILTON in Vegas. While at the Grand, check out the Cabana girls serving poolside at the Terrace and Veranda hotels.

If you have never played tournament blackjack, you need experience and a good way to get it cheaply is by playing in SAM'S TOWN weekly blackjack tournament every Tuesday for only a $35 entry fee.

Does Sam's Town have a new player development director with heavy prior experience in the market? Stay tuned. Also look for the return of another marketing guy back to Tunica if our information is correct. Details later.

Sam's Town is also now issuing another club card, the PRIME REWARDS card and the COMPS PLUS card is now invalid so get your new one, like I did. Sam's Town continues its monthly, live boxing series with fights on June 28. The setup in the arena is real conducive to watching the fights with up-close seating for 900 or so fans.

We were the first to mention that Gold Strike will run a craps tournament in August and although no official announcement has been made, Director of Player Development NANCY DARCY said inquiries are coming in since a big money craps tournament is unusual for Tunica. It will give me a chance to practice my new dice control throw taught to me person by FRANK SCOBLETE, America's most prolific gaming book author and a dedicated crapster.

Speaking of table tournaments at GOLD STRIKE, we need to make a CORRECTION. The date for Gold Strike's BLACKJACK TOURNAMENT was incorrectly reported in the previous issue. The tournament gets underway June 27.

HARRAH'S has opened a brand new video poker bar called DELTADEUCES and it features 13 new video poker games in various denominations. So, while you're there for the Monopoly drawing, give it a try.

Want to spend a great comp weekend at GOLD STRIKE CASINO RESORT? Go to goodtimesradio.com to enter or check out the advertisement in this issue. It is the grand prize to help us celebrate the 9th year of casino broadcasting on the show heard every Saturday from 9:30 to noon on SPORTSPLUS 790 WMC AM, Memphis. Entries are pouring in for the prize, two nights in the hotel, dinner for two at CHICAGO STEAKHOUSE, buffets, show tickets, gift pack ... a great win. So check it out now at goodtimesradio.com. It's a DREAM WEEKEND.

LYNDA HENSON is the new director of table games at SHERATON. Look for a feature on her in the next issue of JACKPOT! and what she will be doing for table gamers.

From the QUOTABLE GAMBLER, The Lyons Press "My only worry about my husband's gambling is that he may lose."

- SPANISH PROVERB

LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER