CASINO extra

December 20, 2001

Brought to you by TotalAction.com
WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING TODAY?


SPECIALS

"25% STOCKING STUFFER" AT SLOTLAND
On Friday, December 21, all day long, each and every deposit made at SLOTLAND will earn the player a 25% bonus - that means if you put $500 into your account, you're credited with $625. There is no limit on the size of deposits that can be made. Take a trip over to Slotland for details.


BETS AROUND THE 'NET
By CHARLES JAY, Editor/Publisher, TotalAction.com

BAD TASTE OR NOT, HERE ARE THE ODDS ON BIN LADEN AND WALKER
Will Osama Bin Laden be named, as many people fear, the Person of the Year by Time Magazine? You can actually bet on it at The Big Book. In odds they have posted in their "Non-sports events" section, The Big Book has Bin Laden a 1/2 favorite to capture the "award", with President George W. Bush at even money, NY mayor Rudy Giuliani and the combined entry of the New York Fire and Police Departments, both listed at 3/1, the United States Armed Forces at 5/1, and John Walker (the American who fought for the Taliban forces) at 8/1. The field (someone else entirely) is 5/1.

Walker is also the focus of two other propositions offered by The Big Book. Wagering is being taken on which network will be the first to interview Walker. CNN is listed at 2/1, with the Arab network Al Jazeera at 3/1, NBC and CBS at 5/1, ABC at 6/1, the BBC at 7/1, and Fox at 10/1. The field (some other network) is 5/1. The stipulations are these: the interview must be at least five minutes long and must be aired on a single network. And if no interview is aired by April 1st of next year, that proposition will bring an even money payoff.

What charge will Walker be hit with? Here are the Big Book's choices and prices:
More than one charge - 3/2
Other charge (only) - 2/1
No charges laid by April 1st - 2/1
Treason (only) - 3/1
Conspiracy (only) - 3/1
Murder (only) - 5/1

Prices are obviously subject to change. If you want to bet it, visit The Big Book


NEWS

* LVRJ TAKES A LOOK AT NEVADA'S "BLACK BOOK"
The first thing you'll notice about the Black Book is that it's not black at all. The "book" is indeed a scant 36 pages in a silver cover. Established to exclude persons who are a threat to the Nevada gaming industry, it has become a symbol of the state's battle against the perception that organized crime is just around every door in the booming casino industry. Those nominated to the book are usually reputed associates of organized crime.
Read more of this story from the Las Vegas Review-Journal

More headlines

* NEW ORLEANS: POPEYE'S CHICKEN KING BEATEN IN BRAWL WITH FORMER CASINO OWNER
A former casino owner and his two sons were arrested on battery charges after a shouting match with Popeye's Famous Fried Chicken founder Al Copeland degenerated into a brawl. Read about this story and the interesting subtext behind it.

* KY. POST: DON'T LET GAMBLING MONEY DECIDE CASINO ISSUE
Kentucky's horse racing industry is mounting a campaign to legalize some forms of casino gambling at race tracks. Read this editorial from Corrine Smalfelt Eaton of the Kentucky Post

* SEATTLE P-I: EXPANSION OF GAMBLING GAINS SUPPORT
The notion that the state should allow more gambling and start taxing the gaming industry is gaining momentum as Washington lawmakers struggle to patch a $1.25 billion hole in the budget. Read Chris McGann's story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

* BOSTON GLOBE: TRIBE VOWS TO PRESS LEGISLATURE ON CASINOS
Leaders of the Wampanoag tribe said yesterday they intend to press the Legislature to decide within six months whether to approve casino gambling in Massachusetts. Read the rest in this Boston Globe story

Also.....
* CINCINNATI POST: SPEAKER - VIDEO GAMBLING NOT DEAD
* LINCOLN JOURNAL-STAR: KENO GROUP PLANS VIDEO SLOT PETITION
* BATON ROUGE ADVOCATE: RIVERBOAT REVENUE ON THE REBOUND
* AP: NY TRACKS WANT BIGGER SHARE OF VLT PROFITS


BLACKJACK
Q&A with CHARLES JAY

WHAT DOES THE TERM DDAS MEAN?

Well, let me start by telling you what DDAS is NOT. DDAS is NOT a brand-new government agency; it is NOT a newly-uncovered, communicable, heterosexual disease; it is NOT the 88th different cable television network to show up on your satellite dish; and it is NOT one of those new boxing organizations crowning another slew of world champions. NO, insofar as blackjack is concerned, DDAS stands for DOUBLING DOWN AFTER SPLIT, which is one of the more useful options which can be made available to the blackjack player.

Doubling after splits means just that - when you split a pair, and receive a hit to either of the split cards which adds to a total which constitutes a doubling situation, you are able, under the DDAS rule, to put down an additional wager equal to your original bet and double the stakes on that half of your split. For instance, let's say you are dealt a pair of sixes and the dealer has a three showing. Basic Strategy dictates that you split the sixes, and when you do that you receive a five to the first six. That, of course, makes a total of 11. Under normal circumstances (i.e., the initial deal), you would quite obviously double with an 11 against the dealer's three. Likewise, if you are in a casino which allows DDAS, you would double your 6,5 combo against the dealer.

DDAS is a good option because it allows the player to expand his horizons; to capitalize even more than usual on a fortuitous situation. When the player is splitting, in most cases the dealer is going to have a "stiff" upcard as it is and when the opportunity arises for the appropriate execution of the doubling option, the player would be well-advised to get as much money on the table as possible.

Using Ken Uston's book, "Million Dollar Blackjack", as a reference, doubling down after split is one of the more profitable options which is available to the player, adding .13% to the player's advantage in the multi-deck game. This means that it is almost twice as profitable as multiple-deck late surrender. So, to put it mildly, it is to the player's advantage indeed to be able to use the DDAS option.


TOURNAMENTS

Mississippi has emerged as one of the hotbeds of legalized gaming, and the Biloxi Sun-Herald covers it well in its "At The Casinos" section. Check out the Sun-Herald's list of hot tournament action this week on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.


OPENINGS

BELLAGIO TO OPEN NIGHTCLUB NEXT WEEK
The Bellagio Hotel/Casino & Resort in Las Vegas will unveil their brand-new nightclub - "Light" - on December 27 with a Grand Opening party hosted by Image Models. What follows on the weekend will be parties for DKNY and Detour Magazine, and of course, the New Year's Eve party on Monday, December 31. For more info, call 702-693-8300, or visit the club's website.


PRESS RELEASE

Lenny Kravitz, Charlize Theron and Kate Hudson Among Celebrities In
Attendance at Grand Opening of Las Vegas' Newest Luxury Resort

LAS VEGAS, Dec. 19 /PRNewswire -- The Fertitta and Greenspun families hosted a star-studded gala attended by Chris O'Donnell, Christian Slater and Craig Kilborn last night to officially open Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa, Las Vegas' newest luxury destination and home to WHISKEY SKY, the opening of which was christened by owner Rande Gerber and his wife Cindy Crawford. Public officials on hand to welcome the resort to the city included United States Senator John Ensign, Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar B. Goodman, and Henderson Mayor Jim Gibson.

Guests enjoyed a dazzling fireworks spectacular from Green Valley Ranch's $20 million pool and backyard area, WHISKEY BEACH, which was conceptualized by internationally renowned designer Michael Czysz. Just as the fireworks display came to an end, the casino officially opened at 9:30 p.m. when Station Casinos' President Lorenzo Fertitta shared blackjack tips with casino guests Rande Gerber, Cindy Crawford, Chris O'Donnell and Christian Slater. As guests danced until dawn to a special appearance by Slash from Guns N' Roses, they feasted on gastronomical delights cooked up by Green Valley Ranch restaurant tenants Border Grill from "Too Hot Tamales" cooking duo Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken; BullShrimp from Las Vegas celebrity chef Gustav Mauler; Il Fornaio; Trophy's Sports Bar; and, The Original Pancake House. Jointly owned by the Fertittas and Greenspuns, the $300 million, 201-room property is Station Casinos' (NYSE: STN) most expensive Las Vegas property to date, as well as the most expensive property that will be built in the city for the next three years.

Green Valley Ranch Resort: Close to the Action but a World Apart Green Valley Ranch is located just minutes from McCarran International Airport and the Las Vegas strip, allowing guests to stay close to the action while experiencing a destination that is a world apart. The resort replicates the look and feel of an Argentinean "Estancia" and offers 201 oversized guest rooms including 45 suites, and a 2,000-square-foot Presidential Suite. Each room is richly appointed with goose down comforters, plush terry robes, oversized bathtubs, high-speed Internet access lines, a safe and mini bar. Guests can also take advantage of Green Valley Ranch's 24-hour concierge service and partnerships with area golf resorts. In late December, guests will be able to relax at the Grand Dolphin Court Spa at Green Valley Ranch, a 10,000 square-foot European day spa with a complete menu of services. The spa is located poolside so guests can enjoy treatments in close proximity to relaxing WHISKEY BEACH. Additionally, the spa at Green Valley Ranch features a state-of-the-art workout facility and massage rooms whose glass ceilings offer an underwater view of the overhead reflection pool.

Green Valley Ranch features numerous additional activities for resort patrons including: a 10-screen, stadium-seat Regal Cinema; 4,200-square-foot arcade; two tennis courts; and, Bocce Ball court. Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa is an affordable luxury destination with room rates starting at $159. Reservations can be made by calling 702-617-7777 or 866-STAY-GVR. For additional information or room accommodations, consumers can also visit the resort's Web site at http://www.greenvalleyranchresort.com . Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa is located at Interstate 215 and Green Valley Parkway, just five minutes from McCarran International Airport.