I guess in the grand scheme of things I'm a little tardy getting to the official and obligatory "Happy New Year". It is only January 2nd, but it already seems passe. Regardless, better late than  never so Happy New Year to all my friends, family, followers and contributors. 

Sure my title to this blog entry isn't the most eloquent that one could hope for, but the truth of the matter is I don't know if I could say much more here. Las Vegas casinos, well actually Las Vegas is synonomous with Casinos. The way Kleenex is synonomous with tissues and Petroleum Jelly is synonomous with Vaseline. To that end I just go the fever in me this past week and I'm planning a trip to Sin City in late January. Probablly not the best time to go to Las Vegas because everyone is looking to get out that way during the late part of January, but I'm going nonetheless. Well I figured I'd give a little bit of my insight to the best things to see and do while in the City where "things that happen there stay there".

My opinion let's start with giving some links to the official web sites supporting Las Vegas tourism. First is Visit Las Vegas, brought to you by the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority. This site is a great tool to utilize in planning a trip to Las Vegas Nevada for several reasons. First, it actually offers the ability to book hotel rooms and other travel related information. Therefore, if you have information about a special or vacation pacakge, or something to that effect, you can use the site to see if the rates are comparable. Second, because this is an offical site of the visitors and convention authority information such as transportation in the local area and other non-commercial information is presented in a very useable fashion. Another website that is fantastic to use is none other than the offical web site of the City of Las Vegas Nevada. Now just so we're clear, this is a web site that is mainly used for people operating businesses in the city or surrounding areas. What I have found so useful about this web site is that it gives the little bit of information that really might be important in going to a city with such a moniker as sin city. This is an information source that offers great facts about local law enforcement, codes, etc. I 'm just saying, if you really have certain things on your mind when you're visiting Las Vegas, this is the kind of information you want to familiarize yourself with.

Now on to my trip. I'm actually breaking the trip up in to a few parts. First off are my Las Vegas Accommodations. I will be staying at the Mirage Casino and Resort located at 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard, and here's a online map of the location. My stay at the Mirage will be from January 22nd to January 25th. Now the reason I did it like this is because I arrive on January 22nd, which is a Thursday, but I check out on Monday the 25th. This does a few things. First, I was able to lock in a good rate for each day because of the multiple day check in, and I'm also not getting kicked in the shins with the weekend rate hikes. I will be getting back to this, but I will be then checking into Mandalay Bay Las Vegas from January 25th to January 28th. We'll get into all the fun things that come along with that change of venue in a second, but now to the Mirage. The Mirage Resort in Las Vegas is a fabulous Multi Start Award Winning hotel and casino property. I'm looking forward to eating at the Samba Brazillian Steakhouse and the the all time Award Winning Spa.

Now heading to the Mandalay Bay Las Vegas is located at 3950 South Las Vegas Boulevard. Again, we're talking about another great Las Vegas property with award winning service, decor, restaurnats and more. One of the fun things I can't wait to do during my stay at the Mandalay Bay is to rock and dance the night away at the Rum Jungle. Also the Mandaly Bay Las Vegas there is some really good entertainment. First and Foremost the hit Musical "Mamma Mia" is ongoing and tickets are available for many dates and times. Check out this link. Also check out Shark Reef which is open daily. For more information about Mandalay Bay Hote Reservations, you will find great information at the accompanying web site. Also, here is some additional information about the Rum Jungle at Mandalay Bay. I know it's the holiday's and we are all looking for the fun that goes along with this time of year, but my trip to Las Vegas is palpable. A little rest and relaxation for after the holiday season and something to look forward to do right in the middle of what I feel is the worst month of the year, Januaryl.

Much of the discusssion that I've been focusing upon in the past few posts has involved what casino comps are, how to get invovled with casino comps and what differenet things you can do to make the most of your casino visits. I happened to be driving near Atlantic City New Jersey the other day and I noticed a great Casino Comps program that I just forgot to mention. The Harrah's Entertainment Company is a huge conglomerate company that owns and operates casinos all over the United States including, Caessar's Atlantic City and Caesar's Palace Las Vegas, also other great Harrah's properties including Harrah's Atlantic City and the ShowBoat Atlantic City Casino Hotel.

What Harrah's has come up with both ingeniously and both simplisticly is to create a rewards program that benefits everyone for doing just about anything at a property. Of course most of the credits earned in casino comps towards the loyalty program is earned through play at either slots or casino table games, the idea of "just using Harrah's" is front and center.

The Total Rewards program is very easy to understand. Basically anything that you earn casino comp credits for can be used for hotel rooms, meals or even a round of golf. The other beauty of what Harrah's has is that they allow the transfer and use of casino comps and credits at any one of their properties no matter where the casino comp credits are earned. I looked into the program a little more to get some specifics about what they do and it really is easy. Again, I'm getting this off of the official site, but I make no guarantees or warranties that these are exactly how these programs work. For simple slot reel machines, for every $5 spent a customer earns 1 credit in loyalty credits. For every $10 spent on a video poker machine 1 credit is earned. Table games and the credits earned towards loyalty points there are a little different. It works on the following forumula. Again, remember, I make no guarantees or warrantees that this is fact, but I checked out their site and this is what it seems to say. Table games such as craps, blackjack, poker or baccarat are determined by the average bet, what type of game is being played and the overall average length of play. For each level of credits earned the customer gets more perks. The basic break down of the program is Gold, Platinum, Diamond and Seven Star.

Because Harrah's has such wide range of reach across the country, from New Jersey, to Louisiana, to Nevada, I suggest looking into this program a little more. Information about the Harrah's Total Rewards Program can be found by going to the link provided.

We will be coming back with more information about casino comps and some inside tips to getting more out of these programs.

The last few posts have been focused upon the joys of casino comps and some of the things casino players should know to get the most out of them. The first two posts got into the basics of what casino comps are, how to get involved in the process and what kind of comps are available. The next few posts I'm going to focus upon will target some very specific issues surrounding how to really get the most out of the comp programs. Things like tipping your dealer, getting airline bumps and other little nuggets of knowledge aimed at really improving your visit to a casino.

Really great Las Vegas Vacation Deals can be had if you can navigate your way through the casino comps process. There is truly a treasure chest of specials, discounts and freebies awaiting you by doing some of these little things that can really make a difference. Once such thing is tipping your dealer well and the right way. Now let me get this out of the way. Tipping your dealer will not influence the outcome of your comps, your winning percentage or anything like that...but that being said, taking care of these people can get you "prefferred service". It's not necessarily and directly related to comps and other things like this but your experience and service will directly reflect the level of tips, normally, when it comes to your dealers. The subject here is how to get the people working for you, to feel excited about you being at their table. There are many ways to tip a dealer, but one of the best ways I've come across is to actually involve the dealer in your play. Yep, you can get the dealer involved in your play by actually setting money down and putting a bet for him or her. I can tell you more so than not, whether it be mojo, the force, good luck or something in between, tipping your dealers seems to always pay off in the end.

There is more to come as it relates to getting the most from your casino experience in the days to come. I've received a few posts that have asked for some real inside tips to get comps, and I'm thinking about how to go about first collecting this info and distributing it. Stay tuned, there is more to come.

We're back and I hope to all of you that you had a great Thanksgiving Holiday. I know I'm still stuffed from my meal on Thursday and I'm looking forward to eating my Turkey Day dinner next year. Is that pathetic or what? Well, when I last left you I had started a little series of mini-posts that I'm going to do the next few posts and that is talking about how to get the most out of Casino Comps or Casino Complimentary Give Away Stuff. Things like free food, cash back, free drinks, tickets to a show and stays at the hotel you're gambling. I got into the basics of the casino comps and how important it is to get into contact with the casino host or pit boss at the casino you are gambling. This is the way to get the ball rolling. To introduce yourself and to get your players card. Once you have the players card you can use it while playing slots or if you're playing table games let the pit boss know that you want your play to be rated.

Ah, see how I segweyed into that. The next discussion of this subject matter for casino comps is how to understand the casino rate. Now just so I don't confuse all of you out there, I'm tallking about the rate you can get as a player at a casino on room stays and not the rating process. So I'm sorry if there was some kind of confusion. To that end we have some quick info about how to get the elusive discounted room rates that the casinos offer to their players. First and foremost, casino rates for rooms aren't just thrown out to people for showing up at the casino. The general rule I've seen is that casino hosts and the casino marketing departments that manage the player development process require that gamblers and casino players gamble at least four hours a day and also gamble a minium level of bet. That's half the battle as far as I've seen, because many people believe that just being in the casino should allow them to get the casino comps. Now on the other hand, when it comes to slot and video machines the rule generally changes and the fact is that each casino sets it's own limit as to the amount a player is betting through the machines each day the play. Again, it has to be a minium level of some cash value.

The goal is to understand the rules of the casino comp game to get the casino rate. The ultimate goal, no doubt is to get the elusive free room and or suite at the casino, but as I stated, getting a casino rate where the room is deeply discounted is also an option and a much easier thing to obtain. The strategy is very simple. If you're going on vacation to say a Las Vegas Casino Hotel, call up that hotel and as to speak with a casino host. They will explain to you the rules and the levels of play you need to have in order to qualify for free and or discounted rooms. It really is that easy. Remember, the casino hosts are there to get you into the casinos to gamble and play so you're not putting them out. Being prepared to get the most out of your stay at the casino hotel is the best way to understand how to get the most from your casino comps.

We'll be coming back in a few more days to discuss more perks that come along with casino comps. Don't miss out.

Today I will begin a series of postings about how to get the most from casino comps. For those of you out there that read my blog that some how don't know what I'm talking about, casino comps are basically complimentary offers provided by casinos. Things such as free rooms, free dining, free shows and everything the mind could imagine. The casino comp strategy is very simple. It is a way to promote good will with the casino's customers and a way to keep them coming back to play. 

As far as I'm concerned today is the day that the 2008 Christmas and Greater Holiday season has started. For some it's the day after Halloween. That's just a little too early. To others it's Thanksgiving. Well I have a special friend who has a birthday today and I start the holiday season on this day. Some Happy Holidays !!!

The current economic downturn has effected more than Wall Street, Main Street, the Auto Makers and other big industry. The Gaming industry and the casinos in the various jurisdictions are feeling the pain. As most of you have heard I've been on a rant for a few days on many posts about the Atlantic City Casinos and the problems they have been experiencing for almost a year now. The issue is, that these problems are far more reaching than just the Atlantic City areae and that is just what the 2008 Gaming Conference has on it's agenda to discuss. The convention's official name the Globabl Gaming Expo, is expected to bring with it about 30,000 gaming professionals to the city of Las Vegas. Sure the economic times are tough, and even this kind of traveling is expensive to any company's books, but a sign of solidarity and bouncing some ideas off of each other is still a must.

Statistics that have been gathered show that as a whole, industry revenue across the United States in the third quarter was down by 4.6%. Many gaming officials are seeing two general reasons for this issue. The first , the economy is keeping the consumers from coming to the casinos and spending money. The second, due to the tight credit markets financial institutions are less likely to lend money with decent interest rates in order to keep casinos a float and to invest in property and marketing initiatives.

The opinion of this writer is that there is far more issues that face the gaming industry today. No doubt that the economic downturn keeps people from spending money. That's an easy one to analyze. The issues I'm seeing are that for whatever reason, the jursidictions, the states, the very people that have benefited economically from legalizing these businesses are more than half the problem. Tighter legislation, laws that actually negatively effect the industry such as anti-smoking, and other efforts on the part of the populace of many of these jurisdictions just are hindering any rebound.

It is my hope that this conference brings to the forefront these issues a little more and in greater view of the people that are being effected. In times when economic downturn was an issue, the legalization of casinos was a viable option. Why, now are many biting the hand that feeds them?

To the pundits, the readers, the members and everyone in between, there is no doubt where my opinion lies when it comes to the effects of the smoking ban on Atlantic City casinos. For those of you not intimately involved with the day to day routine of the Atlantic City New Jersey area, today officially, a suspension of that ban was created. The expected back lash or anti-smoking groups, labor groups and any one else that fits into that category of course is completely irate at this latest step back in there cause. I even heard on a local talk radio station today one caller trying to make the case that anti-smoking laws actually had little to do with contributing to the declining performance of the Atlantic City Casinos. She cited the fact that during the same time the Las Vegas Casinos, which do not have anti-smoking legislation in place, have also reported a decline of 22% during the same time period. No doubt her point being that, overall, the failing economy is the real monster behind all decline and unfortunately, the anti-smoking laws in the Atlantic City casinos is just a spurious correlation.

Hello and welcome back to my blog. Recently I've been obsessed with posting my opinions relating to the smoking ban legislation and how it is effecting, or to be fair contributing to the negative performance of the overall casino market in Atlantic City. Well, I'm going to take a break and step down from my stump for a bit here and get back to some basics.

One thing I have commented on in some time are the myriad of Poker Tournaments and the overall poker circuit. For anyone even remotely interested in casino action, the subject of poker has to be exciting. In my "travels" online I constantly search for good resources that offer first hand and informed information and for this subject of Poker I've found a great blog. One such blog that is authored by a professional poker player and who reports on Poker Tournaments is a great place to check out.

You'll see updated information about well known players on the circuit, schedules of up and coming tournaments around the country and get an inside feel for the world of professional poker.