- 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.

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.

Now and then, I like to re trigger those memories again by playing a game that is as familiar to the original game of ‘war’ than most other games – casino war. Not only is this a fun, simple, memory-making game, but it also gives a fighting chance to beat the dealer a lot of the time.

Casino war is usually played at online casinos with a standard deck of 52 cards and these are ranked in very much the same way as in a game of poker.  The only difference is that that Aces are always high cards in casino war.

Playing casino war is extremely easy.  Essentially, one card is dealt to the player and the other to the dealer.  If the dealer’s card is higher, the player loses the bet, however, if the player’s card is higher, he wins back twice his own wager.  In the case of a tie, the player can either surrender (and forfeit half his bet) or he can ‘go to war’, ie. both need to place a wager the same size as the first.  Game theory tips suggest that players never surrender to increase their odds of winning over a period of time.

If the player opts to ‘go to war’ and wins the round, he wins three bets – the original bet, the ‘declaration of war’ bet and a third amount put up by the dealer.  However, if the player loses, he loses the ‘declaration of war’ bet and the original bet.

There is also the option of taking advantage of a bonus bet on ties. Should the player bet on the tie and the card matches the dealer’s card, the player wins the original bet at a rate of 10:1.

Problem # 1:  My money always runs out in the first hour.

Solution:  This is a common problem, especially among first time gamblers who want to try out all the games in a short space of time.  The solution to this problem is to manage your bankroll better.  Decide how you are going to pace your gambling session and how much you are going to spend overall. If your money runs out too fast, it means that you’re playing for higher stakes than you can manage.  Stick to lower stakes, take it slow and aim to build your bankroll by a little bit each time.  Remember, slowly but surely.

Problem # 2: I live too far from Vegas, and by the time I pay for air travel and accommodation, I have no money left over for casino games.

Solution: Try out online gambling.  Yes, I know that you love the action of Vegas and the feeling of getting away from it all.  But believe me, once you try out online gambling, you’ll be a true convert.  Firstly, you’ll be saving on travel fare and accommodation.  You’ll be able to play any time of the year, and you won’t be reliant on work leave.  Plus, if you examine the excellent online casinos available out there, with their real life graphics and software, you might not even notice the difference!

Problem #3: I’ve tried online gambling, but still prefer the personal touch of live dealers.  There are no live casinos near my home.

Solution: Many online casinos have just the solution for you.  Check out their Live Dealer platforms where you can play from the comfort of your own home and all you need is a webcam.  You’ll be able to play against live dealers who will shuffle the cards and spin the roulette wheel, and you can even chat with the dealers – just like in a live Vegas casino.  The only difference is that you could be thousands of miles away from each other.  Definitely worth a try.

Anyway, his story reminded me of one I heard back in 2009 when Bill Seebeck played at Seminole Hard Rock Casino.  Suddenly his $4 slot machine game started whirring and dinging, and flashed a $166,000,000 win in bright lights.  Within seconds, the casino’s management had the slot machine cordoned off and for a whole, wonderful hour allowed Seebok to dream about how he would spend his incredible windfall.  However, these dreams soon turned to dust after Seebok was informed that the win was actually the result of a malfunction in the casino software and he wasn’t a winner after all.

Seebok was asked to sign a piece of paper on the spot, waiving all rights to claim anything from the casino which he (obviously) refused to do, and he went on to hire a lawyer in the hope of retrieving his win.   Incredibly, the casino claimed that since the highest win on that particular jackpot game was $99,999, it was impossible that Seebok could be the winner of such a large amount of money.  Even worse, the casino said that since it’s ‘policy’ wasn’t to pay out anything on a machine that malfunctions, Seebok wouldn’t be able to see a cent of his win.

One can’t feel anything but sympathy for these guys.  How many times have you dreamed of the moment when you hit the lottery and how many plans have you already made to spend the money.  When it finally happens, how absolutely cruel to have that dream taken away due to ‘human error’ or ‘software error’.  Poor guys!

Las Vegas ran on NBC from 2003 to 2008 and had quite a strong following of viewers, so it comes as no surprise when the network suddenly dropped the show and didn’t renew it after Season Five, that people were outraged that it was left at a cliffhanger.

After watching around four different episodes, I have to say that my favorite character in the show is Ed Deline, who starred in the show for four out of its five seasons. His character is president of operations at the casino and he is also a great family man.  I like the way he manages to handle the security side of the casino in a firm but caring way, and the way his staff relate to him. I’ve taken some great management pointers from this character!

Another character I like is Danny McCoy, who is Ed Deline’s protege in the series and eventually takes over his job when James Caan, who plays Deline, left the show after season four. McCoy eventually takes over Deline’s job as head of security and is also in a relationship with his daughter, with the two expecting their first child together.

If you’re ever stuck at home with nothing to do, or feel like watching some cool TV entertainment which doesn’t require much concentration or forethought, then sit down and enjoy re-runs of Las Vegas.  It seems that NBC doesn’t have plans to bring back the show right now, which seems a shame in the grand scheme of things.

So first of all, here are some facts.  This is the largest casino in the Southern Hemisphere, and I felt quite proud to claim the honor of playing at this location.  The casino is stretched across 220,000 feet of gaming floor and is considered one of the most popular gaming destinations in the world.

I’ve played at some of the best casinos, but this one takes the prize!

So here are a few of the many things I loved about Melbourne’s Crown Casino:

• The entrance.  Just one word is enough. Wow!
• Over forty different restaurants and eateries.  In the three days we spent at the casino, I think I tried out food from practically every corner of the globe, I could have still kept going!  Unfortunately, the waistline started to show the results and I had to stop….
• Three world class hotels – the Crown Towers, the Crown Metropole and the Crown Promenade Hotel.  The hotels are stylish, luxurious and make you feel right at home.
• More than 30 bars where some of the best action in Melbourne’s night life takes place.
• Shopping, shopping and more shopping.  When I told my better half that I was under one roof with the world’s best brands to my east, west, north and south, she nearly hopped on the next plane to join me!  I loved French Connection, Guess, Peter Alexander and lots more….
• The casino.  Hell, what can I say about this place?  Thousands of amazing slot machines, over 300 table games, such as blackjack, roulette and craps, and interactive touch screen games such as Rapid Roulette and Rapid Big Wheel.  I honestly felt that I had died and landed in my version of heaven.

Thanks mate!

Different casino workers get tipped differently.  For example, the average tip for a cocktail waitress is around $1 a drink in Vegas, and you can pay in cash or casino chips. Cocktail waitresses work hard for their money and let’s just say that they aren’t the nation’s most rewarded employees, salary wise, so don’t ‘forget’ to tip or pretend that you don’t have small change.

When it comes to dealers, tipping rules change.  Most casinos get their dealers to pool their tips, which means that if you like a particular dealer (or hate one in the same vein), you won’t be doing him or her a favor by tipping more (or less). Remember too, that for many casino dealers, tips make up the majority of their salary and are not, as you may have believed, the gravy of their wages. It’s up to you how much to tip your dealer, but a general rule of thumb is not less than $5 an hour – no matter whether you are winning or losing at the table.  As an aside, and while it has nothing to do with money, don’t take your frustrations out on the dealer if you’re not doing well. It’s not only about financial rewards!

If you don’t like the idea of tipping altogether, you may want to consider online casino gambling, where you don’t have to pull out your wallet every time you are served!

The 147,000 square foot casino is certainly impressive, and it is no wonder that players are keen to visit the Rivers. There are over 1,000 slot machines and almost 50 table games, offering a well rounded gaming experience for players to try out. The casino also features a plush VIP section with an exclusive gaming area and exclusive lounge.  An attractive feature of this casino, and one of which it is proud, is its generous loyalty program, the Rush Rewards Players Club.  Members of this club will receive invitations to promotions and special events, they’ll receive unique bonuses and they’ll be invited to members-only events throughout the year.

Gaming isn’t the only thing that visitors can enjoy.  Management has ensured that there are a number of top eateries to calm those taste buds. The Canopy Buffet, for example, prefers fresh food at nine different stations scattered around the casino, while Hugo’s Frog Bar and Chop House serves the tastiest steaks and seafood around.  Also featured are FLIPT, the Asian centered Mian Bar and the Coffee Spot.

Construction on the casino began soon after the Illinois Gaming Board awarded the state’s tenth and final casino license to Midwest Gaming and Entertainment to build a 140,000 square foot casino on 21 acres in 2008.  Zoning was approved in 2010, and building began in earnest.  From the reaction of the thousands of people who swarmed on the new casino to check it out for themselves, it can safely be said that the new Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Chicago is living up to its name as one of the most exciting gambling projects in Illinois’ history.

Here are a couple of my favorite roulette quotes:

• American actor and writer, Stephen Wright said: “In Vegas, I got into a long argument with the man at the roulette wheel over what I considered to be an odd number.”
• The English physicist, Stephen Hawking said: “All the evidence shows that God was actually quite the gambler, and the universe is a great casino, where dice are thrown and roulette wheels spin on every occasion.”
• Albert Einstein, who needs no introduction, had his own ideas on roulette, and said: “You cannot beat a roulette table unless you steal money from it.”
• Alex Jamieson said: “The average size of a meat protein should be about the size of a deck of cards, not a roulette wheel. Get a burrito the size of a bar of soap, not a torpedo.”
• Bassim Arida said: “The market has gone beserk. Forget about rational valuations, price earning ratios and growth fundamentals, we have turned into a frenzied mob in front of a roulette wheel.”
• Bud Ghering said: “I think that relying on Mother Nature for income is like playing roulette.”
• Famous writer, George Bernard Shaw said: “The roulette table pays no one except him who keeps it. Nevertheless, a passion for gaming is common, though a passion for keeping roulette wheels is unknown.”
• Anonymous: “And those who are brave shall choose Roulette, or perhaps Roulette shall choose them.  And those brave shall not look away from the wheel in fear as thy ball bounces, for wherever it may land.  Destiny.  And whatever the outcome, the true gamblers, of which Roulette is their game, will trudge forward on the green, number felt, which is their battlefield.”