Heinz had been dabbling in poker here and there for a few months but wasn’t sure about what to do next. He had considered going back to college from where he had dropped out a few months before, and was not sure if he should take the path of a professional poker player. Let’s just say that in hindsight, Heinz is definitely glad he took THAT decision. He joined the WSOP poker circuit a few months ago and today he is not looking back. I guess he is not going back to college very fast…..!

Out of interest sake I have thrown together a list of some of the world’s most rich and famous college drop outs. Now most of these were not professional poker players, but I am sure that when they took the decision to drop out of college and follow their other dream, it was certainly a gamble.

• Bill Gates
• Mark Zuckerberg
• Steve Jobs
• Michael Dell
• Ralph Lauren
• Andrew Lloyd Weber
• JD Rockerfeller
• Ty Warner
• Ted Turner

OK so I am not encouraging dropping out of college here, but for a lucky few, the dream worked, the gamble paid off, and they are now sitting pretty in their richness and fame while some of us have to go about living the real life of studying or waking up in the morning for a real job.

In a police report they urged the public to help find the robbers – described as thin, in their early twenties. Well, that kind of sums up most of the guys I know! Come on police, surely you could come up with a bit of a better description here? I mean where was all the security, cameras, surveillance and the rest? Also, metal detectors or something stopping these dudes arriving with arms?!

Some of the greatest casino heists have been recorded over time. Here are some of them:

In September 1992, brave cashier who worked at Stardust sportsbook, named Bill Brennan, decided to take a long and expensive lunch break.  It was expensive for the casino, not for him, because in a bag thrown over his shoulder, Brennan had packed some sandwiches, and $500,000 in cash….! This was the biggest recorded theft from a Las Vegas casino in history.

In December 2004, 2 Serbs and 2 Hungarians managed to scam the Ritz Casino in London. With the use of cell phones, lasers, computers and other technology, these ‘lucky’ players figured out how to measure the speed of the wheel and ‘guess’ which number the ball would land on, winning as a result a nice little sum of 1.2 million pounds.

In October 1993, a 21 year old woman, in love with her 48 year old hero, managed to load up a truck full of $2.5 million in cash outside the Circus Circus. The two managed to flee the United States and ended up in the Cayman Islands. The poor young girl ended up losing it all, landing up with only a love child, and $1000, while her lover continued to run, away from her too!

If you think of it logically, the chances are that Disney World’s prime target of visitors (read: kids) aren’t going to be rushing off to play blackjack instead of riding the rollercoaster. But I think if three massive entertainment resorts were being planned in my own back yard, I’d start flexing my muscles as well.

Disney employs something like 60,000 people in the area and contributes hundreds of millions to state tax every year.  They are also big contributors to political causes – all which means that the group’s power shouldn’t be underestimated.

I think, however, that Disney and the planned casinos could work side by side and actually complement each other rather well.  The casinos could attract a different kind of visitor who may have not considered Florida as a destination since they weren’t traveling with kids, but would then visit the parks anyway since they were already in the area.

In the meantime, I’d love to see online software companies develop slot games based on Disney characters.  That would show true cooperation between these two worlds.  It might not happen in my lifetime, since Disney is always spouting its family-friendly image and is the only company running cruise ships in the Florida area that doesn’t offer gambling services, but hey, a guy can dream, can’t he?

But before you jump in to the nearest chat room and start yakking away, there are a couple of pointers you need to take into account.

• Do be polite. This may seem incredibly obvious, but sometimes, when we have the glass screen of our computer and the anonymity of the internet as our buffer, we may forget that golden rule.  Before you type a comment, think whether you’d say what you’re saying to someone face to face.  If not, press delete!
• Don’t be a brag. You may be chuffed that you’ve just won a bingo jackpot, but nobody likes a brag.  If someone congratulates you about a win, don’t go overboard about how lucky you were, how amazing the feeling is to win and what you’re going to do with your prize.  A simple, ‘thanks, hope you’re next’ will go down much better.
• Do learn the lingo. If you’re new to online bingo chat rooms, you may very well feel that they’re speaking a different language!  All those abbreviations and acronyms may confuse you in the beginning, but if you take the time to learn bingo lingo, you’ll soon be feeling like an old-timer.  Most good online bingo sites offer you terminology and their explanations so that you don’t feel out of things.  Practice the words and their meanings and try and hold simple conversations with seasoned players.  You’ll be glad you did!
• Don’t whine. If you feel that someone else is winning too often, don’t go whining to the chat moderator.  It is near impossible to cheat at online bingo, and whining won’t get you anywhere.  Be a graceful loser and keep playing – your turn to win will come soon!

The great thing about Las Vegas is that it caters to all types of women and your group will definitely find something that everyone enjoys.

Here are few suggestions for the Ultimate Vegas Hen Night:

• Rent a Limo. There are plenty of car hire companies in Las Vegas who specialize in luxury cars, and the bride-to-be definitely needs to be pampered on the night before her Big Day.  Rent a limo that is big enough to transport the entire group for a fantastic bonding experience!
• Hit the Clubs. You don’t need to be a party animal to enjoy the clubs and lounges in Las Vegas.  There are plenty of classy locations where you will be able to have a great time with excellent music and lots of refreshers.  Try out the nightclub at the Carnival Court at Harrahs, or  the Bellagio’s Fontana Lounge.
• Interactive Entertainment. There are some great venues for you to take part in the fun, such as the Masquerade in the Sky at the Rio or the Eyecandy Sound Bar for an unbelievable experience for you and the rest of the group.
• Hit the Casinos. What would Las Vegas be with the casinos on the Strip? You’ll be amazed by all the options available to you in terms of gambling entertainment, with casino open 24/7.  From slots to video poker, from blackjack to roulette, casino partying is a great way to bond.  Some hen parties see the girls pool their winnings and go out to dinner and drinks with the proceeds.
• Gourmet Delights. Las Vegas is just as big on fine dining as it is on gambling. Girls out on the town will find a host of options to choose from, ranging from pre-dinner snack bars to five course gourmet gems with high listings.  Treat the bride to after dinner drinks for a hen night you’ll never forget!

Here is a list of stones worth stocking up on:

Diamonds – They may be a girl’s best friend, but diamonds are said to inspire courage in a man.

Emeralds – These guys have plenty of different powers, but the one applicable to gamblers is that which summons powers of victory. Good to remember next time you want to beat the blackjack dealer!

Opals - People from the East consider opals to be extremely lucky, especially black ones.  Other parts of the world believe it to be “the stone of tears”.  I guess you’ll have to take your chance on that one.

Agate - This semi precious stone is said to offer protection against the Evil Eye, so if you think your poker pals are jinxing you, put one in your pocket during your next game!

Jade – Another semi precious stone which is considered to be extremely lucky to the wearer.

Topaz – A stone that’s fit for the gambler! Not only does the topaz symbolize money, it also makes the wearer courageous and wise and offers the power of making sound decisions.

Turquoise – This stone also symbolizes prosperity, bringing good fortune and happiness to anyone who wears or carries it.

Amethyst – This is a stone you may want to wear if you like to mix drinking and gambling.  According to folklore, wearing an amethyst prevents drunkenness.  I wouldn’t try this out to see if it works if you are planning to get behind the wheel of a vehicle, but it would make a cool experiment if you were staying home to play at online casinos!

Carnelian - Prevents the wearer from experiencing losses.

Here are a couple of my favorites:

Don’t play on an uncovered surface. You shouldn’t play card games such as poker on a smooth table, but rather one which is covered by a cloth, as this could bring bad luck.

Don’t pick up your cards with your left hand. Tradition has it that the left hand is associated with the devil, and by holding cards in your left hand, you’ll be allowing evil forces and bad luck into your game play.  Of course, if you’re already left handed, you may have a problem with this one….

Don’t sit cross legged while playing cards. You’ll be making a hex sign out of yourself by sitting cross legged, and we don’t want more of that evil energy, do we?

Do avoid singing or whistling while playing cards. These acts are said to draw misfortune and make you lose your card game.

Don’t play cards in a room where a dog is present.  Apparently poochy in the corner there brings bad luck. Give him a bone and send him out into the garden if you want to advance in your game of poker.

Don’t drop a card during your game, especially a black one. OK, this obviously can’t be helped if it happens, and you’re certainly not able to predict which card is going to fall! But IF this happens, you should be worried, apparently, as it’s a sign of bad luck.

Do touch your favorite card. If you want good luck during your game session, search out your favorite card and touch it with your index finger on your right hand.  It is said to bring good fortune.

- In 2001, a 22 year old player decided to try his luck on Megabucks at the State Line Hotel and Casino in Utah.  Probably hoping to save himself a buck, he played with 2 coins instead of the prerequisite three to put himself in line to win the jackpot.  Imagine his absolute horror when he lined up all the necessary symbols to take home the massive first prize – $7.9 million! – but could only walk away with the $10,000 consolation prize because he hadn’t played the maximum number of coins!

- Another Megabucks legend has it that an anonymous young man of 25 won nearly $40 million playing the progressive slot game, and from the moment he did tragedy struck. At this point, the legend changes depending on who is doing the telling.  Some say that he died in a plane crash, others say he died in a car accident and some even claim that he overdosed at the Palms in Las Vegas.  The basic rumor remains the same, however – that the young man managed to win a huge sum of money one day and then died the next. A truly cruel twist of fate.  Snopes.com, however, has dismissed the legends surrounding this particular Megabucks tale and state that they are false.

- A tale which many say is true is that of a 37 year old cocktail waitress, Cynthia Jay-Brennan, who hit a $35 million jackpot and tragically got involved in a car crash that left her a quadriplegic only six weeks later.  Jay-Brennan’s sister was killed in the accident, which occurred when they were hit by a drunk driver while standing at a red light, waiting for it to turn green.

- Other Megabucks rumors include the tale about the underage player who wasn’t paid out even though he hit the jackpot and the casino employee who hit the jackpot but also wasn’t paid out as it went against the rules of the casino.

Whenever Premier League season rolls around, I’m like a kid in a candy store.  I pore over the news relating to all the teams and read up on what analysts are saying about their chances of winning the title.  I have a couple of great sports betting sites that I stick to religiously, such as Ladbrokes, Sportsbook.com and William Hill,  because I know that their odds are great and their reputation is sterling.   Another thing I like about these sites is the fact that they provide me with an analysis about upcoming matches.  This means that I don’t have to stick to outright bets on the winner of the tournament overall; I can also make educated decisions about individual matches and wager on a wide range of markets, from the final score to the first player to kick a goal.

If we’re already on the subject of sports betting, I don’t stop at Premier League betting only.  The best sports betting sites offer such a wide range of sites that it’s amazing that you don’t find Japanese ant races or other obscure sports.  The great thing is that you aren’t limited to the sports in your own country and you can bet on sports events that are happening around the globe.  While I wagered on Saturday’s Premier League football match, I also placed a couple of dollars on the South Africa vs Australia cricket one day international session, and horse races being run in the States.

The great thing about sports betting is that you can really win through this form of entertainment. If you take some time to learn your markets and weigh the odds, you have a real chance of taking home cool cash!

Around six months ago, I was lucky enough to visit Montbleu Resort Casino and Spa which is set against the backdrop of the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains.  I liked the fact that we managed to pack beautiful scenery, great accommodation, delicious meals, pampering spa sessions  and exciting casino entertainment all into four days.

The resort boasts over 430 rooms which are of the highest standards of luxury, with exceptional lake and mountain views.  If you want to move your business conference into your suite, you’ll be able to thanks to the big living area, big screen TV, wet bar and dining features.

Montbleu’s Onsen Spa is the ultimate pampering destination, allowing you to fit in hours of fitness and relief through exercise devices as well as saunas, whirlpool baths and steam rooms.  I put aside a whole day to spend relaxing in the spa, and managed to fit in at least an hour a day in other treatments throughout my stay.

The casino at Montbleu is quite exceptional and manages to cater to all types of players – from those looking for budget entertainment to high rollers. Table games on offer include Three Card Poker, Texas Hold ‘em, Let it Ride, Mini Baccarat and Jackpot Pai Gow Poker.  I did pretty well at the blackjack table and the craps table was always busy, although I didn’t manage to get round to the game.

The slot machines at Montbleu’s casino also offer super entertainment, and you’ll find a wide range of different denominations and themes. I tried my luck on Wheel of Fortune, Mega Bucks and Deuces Wild video poker but there were endless others to choose from, all boasting the last word in ‘ticket in, ticket out’ technology.  With the opportunity to wager anything from a nickel to $25 a spin, everyone is catered for here as well.

Also, check out The Zone,  a recently remodeled Race and Sports Book Room with 40 new large-screen TVs and all day sports action.

I would definitely recommend this resort casino and spa to anybody in the Nevada region of Lake Tahoe.