Florida Casinos Playbook

Calder Casino Now Open

2010-01-23T09:58:00.000-08:00

Calder Race Course's casino opened at 9am on January 22nd. The brand new facility houses 1200 slot, video poker, and video blackjack machines. There are also two restaurants and a buffet, as well as the 11 table Studz Poker Room, and simulcast wagering.

Quarter Horse Racing at Hialeah Park

2009-11-29T08:45:00.000-08:00

Hialeah Park reopened on November 28, 2009 for quarter horse racing. The season ends February 2, 2010. Live races run Saturday through Tuesday. First post time is 2:05pm. Gates open at 1pm with free parking and free admission.

Magic City Casino Now Open

2009-11-15T11:19:00.000-08:00

The new Magic City Casino opened at Flagler Dog Track in October. The casino features 700 slots and video poker machines, a poker room, a buffet and snack bar, and an outdoor bar with live music. The casino also has a pretty active entertainment. There is also live greyhound racing five days a week, plus simulcast wagering every day.

South Florida Poker News - November

2009-11-11T04:57:00.000-08:00

Promos, Special Tournaments, Food & Drink Specials

Here's a look at some of the poker promotions and more notable tournaments for November in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. We'll update as additional news becomes available.

Poker Room Grand Opening (Calder Race Course) - Calder's Studz Poker Club (29 tables) opened October 23rd.

$10,000 Guaranteed Deep Stack Tournaments (Calder Race Course) - November 14th, 15th, and 21st at 11am. $100 buy-in, 10,000 units to start with 30 minute blind levels.

Hand Bonuses (Mardi Gras) - Royal Flushes pay $599, plus bad beat jackpots, and high hand bonuses daily.

Special Guaranteed Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock's popular guaranteed tournaments range in buy-in from $75 to $1100. Click here for the complete schedule.

Big Slick Tournament (Seminole Hard Rock) - The monthly event is scheduled for November 28th at 11am ($1100 buy-in). Satellites available ($150 buy-in).

$10 Off Any Tournament Entry (Seminole Hard Rock) - Simply sign up for the Hard Rock's promotions and events email newsletter (click here), then print out the coupon you receive and take it to the poker room.

Bonus Awards (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock also runs daily high hand, aces cracked, and 4-of-a-kind promos.

Seven Deuce Tournament (Pompano) - Saturday November 28th at 2:07pm. $720 buy-in for 7200 chips. $72 add-on for an additional 7200 chips.

Beginners Tournaments (Dania) - Sundays at 4pm (excluding first Sunday of the month). Entry is only $15.

$100 Shootout (Dania) - Saturday November 28th at 12:30pm. 10 tables, 100 players max. Each table plays down to one player, with table winners meeting at the final table.

Dan Le Batard Celebrity Poker Tournament (Dania) - Wednesday, November 25th. $50 entry.

$50 High Hand Awards (Dania) - Daily 1-4pm. Plus other promos such as aces cracked and splash the pot beginning at 5pm.

Free Drinks & Food (Dania) - Dania offers complimentary house beverages while playing non tournament games. Get a free sandwich 1-3pm. Free coffee and sweets are served at 3pm.

$150 High Hand Awards (Flagler) - Every day. Plus, $1000 high hands hourly 3pm-mid on November 27th.

More Jackpots & Awards (Miami Jai Alai) - The Crystal Card Room has the following promotions: Royal Flush progressive jackpots, four aces ($100), hourly high hand awards ($100), straight flush awards ($100).

Aces Cracked (Seminole Hollywood Casino) - Aces cracked promos, 4 of a kind bonuses, straight flush bonuses, and other promos. See casino for schedule.

South Florida Poker News - October

2009-10-04T19:17:00.000-07:00

Promos, Special Tournaments, Food & Drink Specials

Here's a look at some of the poker promotions and more notable tournaments for October in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. We'll update as additional news becomes available.

Poker Room Grand Opening (Calder Race Course) - Calder's Studz Poker Club (29 tables) opens October 23rd.

$550 Deep Stack Tournament (Calder Race Course) - October 24th at 11am. 10,000 units to start with 40 minute blind levels.

Hand Bonuses (Mardi Gras) - Royal Flushes pay $599, plus bad beat jackpots, and high hand bonuses daily.

$325,000 Fall Open Poker Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - Eleven events with buy-ins ranging from $75 to $1,100. October 2-12.

Special Guaranteed Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock's popular guaranteed tournaments range in buy-in from $75 to $300. Click here for the complete schedule.

Big Slick Tournament (Seminole Hard Rock) - The monthly event is scheduled for October 31st at 11am ($1100 buy-in). Satellites available on October 16, 23, 29 and 30 ($150 buy-in).

$10 Off Any Tournament Entry (Seminole Hard Rock) - Simply sign up for the Hard Rock's promotions and events email newsletter (click here), then print out the coupon you receive and take it to the poker room.

Bonus Awards (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock also runs daily high hand, aces cracked, and 4-of-a-kind promos.

10-10 Poker Tournament (Dania) - October 10th at 12:30pm. Entry is $250. Satellites offered daily. Limited to first 260 players.

Free Drinks & Food (Dania) - Dania offers complimentary house beverages while playing non tournament games. Get a free sandwich 1-3pm. Free coffee and sweets are served at 3pm.

Hot Table Progressive (Flagler) - Daily at 3pm. One table is chosen at random. A card is dealt to each player. The highest card wins $500. All other players at the table carrying a valid card win $50.

$200 High Hand Awards (Flagler) - Every day, awarded every two hours.

More Jackpots & Awards (Miami Jai Alai) - The Crystal Card Room has the following promotions: Royal Flush progressive jackpots, four aces ($100), hourly high hand awards ($100), straight flush awards ($100).

Aces Cracked (Seminole Hollywood Casino) - Aces cracked promos, 4 of a kind bonuses, straight flush bonuses, and other promos. See casino for schedule.

South Florida Poker News - September

2009-09-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

Promos, Special Tournaments, Food & Drink Specials

Here's a look at some of the poker promotions and more notable tournaments for September in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. We'll update as additional news becomes available.

New Tournament Schedule (Mardi Gras) - Revised schedule began in April (Click here for schedule).

Hand Bonuses (Mardi Gras) - Royal Flushes pay $599, plus high hand bonuses daily.

The Main Event Poker Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - Three tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $350 to $1100. The $350 tournament starts at noon on September 7th. Play the $575 tournament at noon on September 9th. And the two day $1100 event begins September 12th at 11am. Satellites are held the day before.

Special Guaranteed Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock's popular guaranteed tournaments range in buy-in from $75 to $300. Click here for the complete schedule.

Big Slick Tournament (Seminole Hard Rock) - The monthly event is scheduled for September 26th at 11am ($1100 buy-in). Satellites available on September 18, 24, & 25 ($150 buy-in).

$10 Off Any Tournament Entry (Seminole Hard Rock) - Simply sign up for the Hard Rock's promotions and events email newsletter (click here), then print out the coupon you receive and take it to the poker room.

Bonus Awards (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock also runs daily high hand, aces cracked, and 4-of-a-kind promos.

Labor Day Weekend of Tournaments (Dania) - Includes a $100 buy-in event on Friday Sept 4th at 6:30pm, the Ante Up Magazine $150 tournament on Saturday Sept 5 at 12:30pm, a $25 entry tournament on Sunday Sept 6 at 12:30pm, a $70 Omaha tournament on Sunday Sept 6 at 4pm, and two more $25 tournaments on Monday Sept 7 at 12:30pm and 6:30pm.

High Heels Poker Tour (Dania) - The ladies only tour comes to Dania on Saturday September 12 with a $125 tournament at 4pm.

Free Drinks & Food (Dania) - Dania offers complimentary house beverages while playing non tournament games. Get a free sandwich 1-3pm. Free coffee and sweets are served at 3pm.

$10,000 in High Hand Awards (Flagler) - On September 26th, ten $1000 high hand awards (hourly from 3pm to midnight).

Hot Table Progressive (Flagler) - Daily at 3pm. One table is chosen at random. A card is dealt to each player. The highest card wins $500. All other players at the table carrying a valid card win $50.

$200 High Hand Awards (Flagler) - Every day, awarded every two hours.

More Jackpots & Awards (Miami Jai Alai) - The Crystal Card Room has the following promotions: Royal Flush progressive jackpots, four aces ($100), hourly high hand awards ($100), straight flush awards ($100).

Aces Cracked (Seminole Hollywood Casino) - Aces cracked promos, 4 of a kind bonuses, straight flush bonuses, and other promos. See casino for schedule.

Slots Coming to Flagler Dog Track

2009-09-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

Flagler's Magic City Casino is expected to open in October. The $54M facility, which is nearly complete, will include 700 slots. The Miami Herald reported last week that the first shipment of machines has arrived and workers are finishing construction.

Elsewhere in Miami-Dade County, Calder Race Course is building an $85M casino, which is expected to open in January in time for the Super Bowl.

Florida Poker News - July

2009-07-05T12:52:00.000-07:00

Promos, Special Tournaments, Food & Drink Specials

Here's a look at some of the poker promotions and more notable tournaments for July in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. We'll update as additional news becomes available.

Harley Devidson Poker Challenge (Gulfstream Park) - Earn leaderboard points by playing tournaments (MTT or SNG) from July 1st to September 4th. The top 50 point earners will receive free entry to the Main Event to be held September 6th at the Atlantis Casino, Paradise Island, Bahamas. Top prize includes a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Royal Flush Awards (the isle pompano) - Win $599 in July.

$30,000 Guaranteed Tournament (the isle pompano) - Monday, July 6th at 1:30PM ($440, 1 re-entry).

New Tournament Schedule (Mardi Gras) - Starting April 13th (Click here for schedule).

The Main Event Poker Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - Three tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $350 to $1100. The $350 tournament starts at noon on Jul 13th. Play the $575 tournament at noon on July 15th. And the two day $1100 event begins July 18th at 11am. Satellites are held the day before.

Special Guaranteed Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock's popular guaranteed tournaments range in buy-in from $75 to $575. Click here for the complete schedule.

Big Slick Tournament (Seminole Hard Rock) - The monthly event is scheduled for July 25th at 11am ($1100 buy-in). Satellites available on July 18, 23, & 24 ($150 buy-in).

$10 Off Any Tournament Entry (Seminole Hard Rock) - Simply sign up for the Hard Rock's promotions and events email newsletter (click here), then print out the coupon you receive and take it to the poker room.

Bonus Awards (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock also runs daily high hand, aces cracked, and 4-of-a-kind promos.

$40,000 Guaranteed Tournament (Dania) - July 11th at 12:30pm. $250 entry fee. Satellites available.

Cash for Play (Dania) - Earn cash based on hours played at any non-tournament game throughout July. For example, 25 hours of play will get you $50 back, up to $400 for 200 hours of play.

$50 High Hand Awards (Dania) - Every hour until 8pm.

Food and Drink Specials (Dania) - Dania offers complimentary house beverages while playing. Happy hour 5-7PM daily. Complimentary sandwich from 1 to 3 PM Mon-Fri. Coffee and sweets served at 3PM to all players.

Hot Table Progressive (Flagler) - Daily at 3pm. One table is chosen at random. A card is dealt to each player. The highest card wins $500. All other players at the table carrying a valid card win $50.

$200 High Hand Awards (Flagler) - Every day, awarded every two hours.

More Jackpots & Awards (Miami Jai Alai) - The Crystal Card Room has the following promotions: Royal Flush progressive jackpots, four aces ($100), hourly high hand awards ($100), straight flush awards ($100).

Aces Cracked (Seminole Hollywood Casino) - Aces cracked promos Mon-Wed. High hand awards Sat & Sun. $500 Royal Flush Bonuses Sun-Thurs.

Poker News May 2009

2009-05-09T20:11:00.000-07:00

Promos, Special Tournaments, Food & Drink Specials

Here's a look at some of the poker promotions and more notable tournaments for May in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. We'll update as additional news becomes available.

Florida State Poker Championship Satellites (the isle pompano) - Throughout May with buy-ins from $60. The championship events run June 12-23.

High Hand Awards (the isle pompano) - Every Tuesday and Thursday. $200 for limit hold'em, $500 for NLHE.

$30,000 Guaranteed Tournament (the isle pompano) - Monday, May 25th at 1:30PM ($440, 1 re-entry).

New Tournament Schedule (Mardi Gras) - Starting April 13th (Click here for schedule).

The Main Event Poker Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - Three tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $350 to $1100. The $350 tournament starts at noon on May 11th. Play the $575 tournament at noon on May 13th. And the two day $1100 event begins May 16th at 11am. Satellites are held the day before.

Special Guaranteed Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock's popular guaranteed tournaments range in buy-in from $75 to $575. Click here for the complete schedule.

Big Slick Tournament (Seminole Hard Rock) - The monthly event is scheduled for May 30th at 11am ($1100 buy-in). Satellites available on May 22, 28, 29 ($150 buy-in).

Sumer Open Series (Seminole Hard Rock) - Runs June 12-20 with 9 events. Buy-ins range from $75 to $1100.

$10 Off Any Tournament Entry (Seminole Hard Rock) - Simply sign up for the Hard Rock's promotions and events email newsletter (click here), then print out the coupon you receive and take it to the poker room.

Bonus Awards (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock also runs daily high hand, aces cracked, and 4-of-a-kind promos.

Cash for Play (Dania) - Earn cash based on hours played at any non-tournament game throughout May. For example, 25 hours of play will get you $50 back, up to $400 for 200 hours of play. Plus, win a trip to Borgata (get one entry per 10 hours play in April).

$50 High Hand Awards (Dania) - Every hour until 8pm.

Food and Drink Specials (Dania) - Dania offers complimentary house beverages while playing. Happy hour 5-7PM daily. Complimentary sandwich from 1 to 3 PM Mon-Fri. Coffee and sweets served at 3PM to all players.

Hot Table Progressive (Flagler) - Daily at 3pm. One table is chosen at random. A card is dealt to each player. The highest card wins $500. All other players at the table carrying a valid card win $50.

$200 High Hand Awards (Flagler) - Every day, awarded every two hours.

World Series of Poker Tournament (Flagler) - May 30th at 2pm. Buy in $550.

Heads Up Tournament (Miami Jai Alai) - May 20th at 1:30pm. $150 buy in. 4000 starting chips. 20 minute levels.

More Jackpots & Awards (Miami Jai Alai) - The Crystal Card Room has the following promotions: Royal Flush progressive jackpots, four aces ($100), hourly high hand awards ($100), straight flush awards ($100).

Aces Cracked (Seminole Hollywood Casino) - Aces cracked promos Mon-Wed. High hand awards Sat & Sun. $500 Royal Flush Bonuses Sun-Thurs.

Poker News April 2009

2009-04-09T19:07:00.000-07:00

Promos, Special Tournaments, Food & Drink Specials

Here's a look at some of the poker promotions and more notable tournaments for April in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. We'll update as additional news becomes available.

WSOP Main Event Satellites (the isle pompano) - Two table $550 sit-n-go's on Tuesdays at 7:30PM. $330 Multitable tournaments on Sundays at 3:00PM. Satellites to the Tuesday satellites start at Tuesday at 2PM for $60.

Royal Flush Bonus (the isle pompano) - $100, every day in April.

$30,000 Guaranteed Tournament (the isle pompano) - Monday, April 20th at 1:30PM ($440, 1 re-entry).

New Tournament Schedule (Mardi Gras) - Starting April 13th (Click here for schedule).

The Main Event Poker Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - Three tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $350 to $1100. The $350 tournament starts at noon on April 13th. Play the $575 tournament at noon on April 15th. And the two day $1100 event begins April 18th at 11am. Satellites are held the day before.

Special Guaranteed Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock has added more events to their popular guaranteed tournament schedule this month. $8k guaranteed on April 8th 12th 22nd & 26th ($75 buy in); $15k guaranteed on April 14 & 28th ($150 buy-in). $25k guaranteed on April 2 & 6 & 20th ($300 buy in). $30k guaranteed on April 10 & 24th ($150 buy in). $50k guaranteed on May 2nd ($575 buy in).

Big Slick Tournament (Seminole Hard Rock) - The monthly event is scheduled for April 25th at 11am ($1100 buy-in). Satellites available on April 17, 23 and 24 ($150 buy-in).

$10 Off Any Tournament Entry (Seminole Hard Rock) - Simply sign up for the Hard Rock's promotions and events email newsletter (click here), then print out the coupon you receive and take it to the poker room.

Bonus Awards (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock also runs daily high hand, aces cracked, and 4-of-a-kind promos.

Cash for Play (Dania) - Earn cash based on hours played at any non-tournament game throughout April. For example, 25 hours of play will get you $50 back, up to $400 for 200 hours of play. Plus, win a trip to Borgata (get one entry per 10 hours play in April).

$50 High Hand Awards (Dania) - Every hour until 8pm.

Food and Drink Specials (Dania) - Dania offers complimentary house beverages while playing. Happy hour 5-7PM daily. Complimentary sandwich from 1 to 3 PM Mon-Fri. Coffee and sweets served at 3PM to all players.

Hot Table Progressive (Flagler) - Daily at 3pm. One table is chosen at random. A card is dealt to each player. The highest card wins $500. All other players at the table carrying a valid card win $50.

$200 High Hand Awards (Flagler) - Raised from $150. Every day, awarded every two hours.

Special Bounty Tournament (Flagler) - April 21st at 2pm. Buy in $120, with $25 bounties.

Couples Domino Tournament (Miami Jai Alai) - April 26th at 4pm. $55 per person.

Heads Up Tournament (Miami Jai Alai) - April 22nd at 1:30pm. Capped at 32 players, pays top 4. $150 buy in. 4000 starting chips, $10 add on for 2000 chips. 20 minute levels.

More Jackpots & Awards (Miami Jai Alai) - The Crystal Card Room has the following promotions: Royal Flush progressive jackpots, four aces ($100), hourly high hand awards ($100), straight flush awards ($100).

Aces Cracked (Seminole Hollywood Casino) - Aces cracked prmos Mon-Wed. High hand awards Sat & Sun. $500 Royal Flush Bonuses Sun-Thurs.

Florida Derby This Saturday

2009-03-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a year since Big Brown romped in the Fla Derby on his way to capturing the Kentucky Derby.

The 58th running of the Florida Derby (Gr I) is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, March 28th. Top contenders include Dunkirk, Quality Road, Beethoven, and Theregoesjojo. Other graded stakes races on Saturday's card included the Swale (Gr II) and the Appleton (Gr III). Three year old fillies compete on Friday in the $200,000 Bonnie Miss (Gr II).

America's Got Talent Auditions & Live Taping

2009-03-24T08:52:00.001-07:00

It's not gambling, but you can win 1 million dollars and become quite famous.

NBC's hit show America's Got Talent will be holding auditions in Miami on March 28 & 29 at the Hyatt Regency. Click here for more information.

If you're like me and you've got no talent, then you can be in the television audience for a live taping of the show at the Jackie Gleason Theater. There will be 4 shows taped March 31st & April 1st. Click here for free tickets.

St Patrick's Day Promos and Events

2009-03-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

Here are the specials for St Patrick's Day at South Florida casinos and pari-mutuels:

3rd Annual St Patrick's Day Pot of Gold Fest - Food, live entertainment, beads, boas, green beer, and give-a-ways (Mardi Gras Gaming, March 17).

$17,000 St Patrick's Day Swipe & Win - Swipe your IsleOne card at any kiosk, win up to $1000, guaranteed $5 (the isle pompano, March 17, 9am - midnight).

St Patrick's Day Pot of Gold Bonus - Texa Hold'Em high hand of the hour wins $150-500. Win is doubled if hand was dealt by a specially designated leprechaun dealer (Seminole Hard Rock, March 17, 8am-2am).

Double High Hand - Every high hand winner recives $300 on St Patrick's Day (March 17, Flagler Dog Track Magic City Poker Room).

The Amazing Race - Casting Call Comes to SoFla Casino

2009-03-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

CBS's hit tv show The Amazing Race is holding an open casting call for contestants at Mardi Gras Casino in Hallandale on Saturday, March 14th from 10AM to 2PM.

Auditions will be held on a first-come, first-served basis. Hopeful two person teams should arrive early.

Click here for more details.

Poker News March 2009

2009-03-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

Promos, Special Tournaments, Food & Drink Specials

Here's a look at some of the poker promotions and more notable tournaments for March in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. We'll update as additional news becomes available.

March Lucky Hand Hand Jackpots (the isle pomapano) - Sunday through Thursday, March 1-15, hourly high hands from 2pm to 10pm win $200 (limit hold'em & omaha) or $500 (no limit hold'em).

$300,000 Guaranteed Battles at the Beach (the isle pomapano) - March 22-25. Multiple tournaments with buy ins of $550 to $900, and guaranteed prize pools of $50k to $150k.

$100,000 Guaranteed Championship Event (the isle pomapano) - A heads up bracelet event with $50,000 going to the winner guaranteed. The buy in is $900, and entries are limited to 128 players.

St Patrick's Day Pot of Gold Bonus (Seminole Hard Rock) - On March 17th, high hand of the hour pulls an envelope out ofthe pot of gold with cash prizes from $150 to $500, doubled if dealt by a designated leprechaun dealer.

The Main Event Poker Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - Three tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $350 to $1100. The $350 tournament starts at noon on March 9th. Play the $575 tournament at noon on March 11th. And the two day $1100 event begins March 14th at 11am. Satellites are held the day before.

Special Guaranteed Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - The Hard Rock has added more events to their popular guaranteed tournament schedule this month. $8k guaranteed on March 8th & 22nd ($75 buy in); $15k guaranteed on March 10 & 24th ($150 buy-in). $25k guaranteed on March 2 & 16 & 30th ($300 buy in). $30k guaranteed on March 13 & 27th ($150 buy in).

Big Slick Tournament (Seminole Hard Rock) - The monthly event is scheduled for March 28th at 11am ($1100 buy-in). Satellites available on March 20, 26 and 27 ($150 buy-in).

$10 Off Any Tournament Entry (Seminole Hard Rock) - Simply sign up for the Hard Rock's promotions and events email newsletter (click here), then print out the coupon you receive and take it to the poker room.

Cash for Play (Dania) - Earn cash based on hours played at any non-tournament game throughout February. For example, 25 hours of play will get you $50 back, up to $400 for 200 hours of play.

Food and Drink Specials (Dania) - Dania offers complimentary house beverages while playing. $1 beer, dogs and sodas on Sunday. Happy hour 5-7PM daily. Complimentary sandwich from 1 to 3 PM Mon-Fri. Coffee and sweets served at 3PM to all players. 99 cents Wednesdays (hot dog & fries, 3 wings, 20 oz Coke fountain drinks, 16 oz draft beer, frozen drinks, and soft serve cone).

Iron Man Prize (Flagler) - This is a new daily contest with a $200 prize. To be eligible, a player must check in by 3pm, and still be present and playing at 11pm (with no more than 30 minutes spent outside the poker room). There will be a random drawing among eligible, carded players.

$150 High Hand Awards (Flagler) - Every day, awarded every two hours.

St Patrick's Day Double High Hand (Flagler) - On March 17th every high hand winner receives $300.

$1,000 Guaranteed Winner Take All Tournament (Flagler) - Every Sunday at 2pm. Entry is $25 and limited to 50 entrants.

Spring Break Tournament (Flagler) - March 21st at 2pm. Buy in $55.

$500 Freeroll Tournaments (Miami Jai Alai) - Saturdays at 3pm.

March Madness Tournament (Miami Jai Alai) - March 22nd. $100+10 buy in. 4000 starting chips, $10 add on for 2000 chips. 30 minute levels.

More Jackpots & Awards (Miami Jai Alai) - The Crystal Card Room has the following promotions: Royal Flush progressive jackpots, daily four of a kind jackpots (4-8pm), early bird and late night hourly high hand awards ($100), straight flush awards ($100-$300), aces cracked $50 (Fri-Sun 6pm-12am), pocket kings cracked by pocket aces ($25, daily 12pm-2pm & 8pm-12am), set cracked by straight or flush ($50, daily 12pm-2pm & 8pm-12am).

Aces Cracked (Seminole Hollywood Casino) - Aces cracked wins $100 on Mondays (3 & 6pm), Tuesdays (3pm), and Thursdays (3pm).

Magna Entertainment Files For Chapter 11

2009-03-05T11:40:00.000-08:00

Magna Entertainment Corp, which owns Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, filed for bankruptsy on Thursday, March 5th. The company will be seeking to sell its South Florida assets, which also include the Palm Meadows training facility and its interest in The Village at Gulfstream Park (its new shopping mall, a joint venture with Forest City Enterprises, that is expected to open later this year).

Poker News February 2009

2009-02-04T10:11:00.000-08:00

Promos, Special Tournaments, Food & Drink Specials

Here's a look at some of the poker promotions and more notable tournaments for February in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. We'll update as additional news becomes available.

Valentine Package Giveaways (Seminole Hard Rock) - On February 14th, 4 drawings will be held in the poker room. The packages include room, dinner, and show tickets.

The Main Event Poker Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - Three tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $350 to $1100. The $350 tournament starts at noon on February 9th. Play the $575 tournament at noon on February 11th. And the two day $1100 event begins February 14th at 11am. Satellites are held the day before.

Special Guaranteed Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - $15k guaranteed on Feb 10 & 24th ($150 buy-in). $25k guaranteed on Feb 2 & 16th ($300 buy in). $30k guaranteed on Feb 6 & 20th ($150 buy in).

Big Slick Tournament (Seminole Hard Rock) - The monthly event is scheduled for February 28th at 11am ($1100 buy-in). Satellites available on February 20 and 27 ($150 buy-in).

$10 Off Any Tournament Entry (Seminole Hard Rock) - Simply sign up for the Hard Rock's promotions and events email newsletter (click here), then print out the coupon you receive and take it to the poker room.

Cash for Play (Dania) - Earn cash based on hours played at any non-tournament game throughout February. For example, 25 hours of play will get you $50 back, up to $400 for 200 hours of play.

Food and Drink Specials (Dania) - Dania offers complimentary house beverages while playing. $1 beer, dogs and sodas on Sunday. Happy hour 5-7PM daily. Complimentary sandwich from 1 to 3 PM Mon-Fri. Coffee and sweets served at 3PM to all players. 99 cents Wednesdays (hot dog & fries, 3 wings, 20 oz Coke fountain drinks, 16 oz draft beer, frozen drinks, and soft serve cone).

Iron Man Prize (Flagler) - This is a new daily contest with a $200 prize. To be eligible, a player must check in by 3pm, and still be present and playing at 11pm (with no more than 30 minutes spent outside the poker room). There will be a random drawing among eligible, carded players.

$150 High Hand Awards (Flagler) - Every day, awarded every two hours.

$1,000 Guaranteed Winner Take All Tournament (Flagler) - Every Sunday at 2pm. Entry is $25 and limited to 50 entrants.

Aces Cracked (Seminole Hollywood Casino) - Aces cracked wins $100 on Mondays (3 & 6pm), Tuesdays (3pm), and Thursdays (3pm).

Barbaro's Full Brother Nicanor Entered at Gulfstream

2009-01-28T11:37:00.001-08:00

Nicanor, a 3 year old full brother to 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, is training at Palm Meadows and expected to debut his racing career this weekend at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale.

The colt is entered in Saturday's eighth race (Jan 31st): a Maiden Special Weight going one mile on the dirt. Alternatively, if scratched Saturday, trainer Michael Matz is considering a race on the turf course the following weekend. Nicanor will be ridden by Edgar Prado.

Poker News January 2009

2009-01-13T09:27:00.000-08:00

Promos, Special Tournaments, Food & Drink Specials

Here's a look at some of the promotions and more notable tournaments for January. We'll update as additional news becomes available.

Win a 2009 WSOP Package (Dos Bullets Charity Event) - Play in the charity poker tournament at Congregation Kol Tikvah (Parkland, FL) for a chance to win an all-inclusive package to the 2009 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas this summer. The event takes place on January 24th (check in at 6pm). Pre-registration is $180. Click for more information.

The Main Event Poker Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - Three tournaments with buy-ins ranging from $350 to $1100. The $350 tournament starts at noon on January 12th. Play the $575 tournament at noon on January 14th. And the two day $1100 event begins January 17th at 11am. Satellites are held the day before.

Special Guaranteed Tournaments (Seminole Hard Rock) - $15k guaranteed on Jan 13 & 27th ($150 buy-in). $25k guaranteed on Jan 5 & 19th ($300 buy in). $30k guaranteed on Jan 9 & 23rd ($150 buy in).

Big Slick Tournament (Seminole Hard Rock) - The monthly event is scheduled for January 31st at 11am ($1100 buy-in). Satellite available on January 30th ($150 buy-in).

$10 Off Any Tournament Entry (Seminole Hard Rock) - Simply sign up for the Hard Rock's promotions and events email newsletter (click here), then print out the coupon you receive and take it to the poker room.

Cash for Play (Dania) - Earn cash based on hours played at any non-tournament game throughout January. For example, 25 hours of play will get you $59 back, up to $409 for 200 hours of play.

High Heels Poker Tour (Dania) - The ladies only tournament is on January 17th (4pm) with a $100 buy-in.

Food and Drink Specials (Dania) - Dania offers complimentary house beverages while playing. $1 beer, dogs and sodas on Saturday. Happy hour 5-6PM daily. Complimentary sandwich from 1 to 3 PM Mon-Fri. Coffee and sweets served at 3PM to all players. 99 cents Wednesdays (hot dog & fries, 3 wings, 20 oz Coke fountain drinks, 16 oz draft beer, frozen drinks, and soft serve cone).

$500 High Hand Awards (Flagler) - The Magic City Poker Room awards $500 to the high hand every Friday and Saturday night from midnight until closing. Plus, every other player at the table wins $25.

$25,000 Giveaway (Flagler) - All high hand award winners for the month will be entered in a drawing for $5,000 on January 31st. There will be 5 winners.

2009 Isle Poker Classic (Pompano) - The annual tournament gets underway January 1st with a preliminary event ($550 buy-in) and then the multi-day Championship Event ($900). Satellites ($60) are available on Thursdays and Sundays at 1:00PM.

Poker News

2008-12-15T09:31:00.000-08:00

Promos, Special Tournaments, Food & Drink Specials

December is shaping up to be a busy month with plenty of incentives to get you out to the card rooms. Let's look at some of the promotions and more notable tournaments, and we'll keep updating as the month progresses.

Big Slick Tournament (Seminole Hard Rock) - The monthly event is scheduled for December 27th at noon ($1100 buy-in). Satellites are available.

$10 Off Any Tournament Entry (Seminole Hard Rock) - Simply sign up for the Hard Rock's promotions and events email newsletter (click here), then print out the coupon you receive and take it to the poker room.

Holiday Cash (Dania) - Earn cash based on hours played at any non-tournament game throughout December. For example, 25 hours of play will get you $50 back, up to $400 for 200 hours of play.

Celebrity Poker Tournament & 55 Cent Night (Dania) - On Tuesday night, December 30th, play in the Dan LeBatard tournament. The entry fee is $50, with first prize expected to be approximately $5,000. But wait, there's more. In honor of Dania Jai Alai's 55th birthday, there will be 55 cent specials on beer, dogs, soda, and ice cream throughout the fronton.

Food and Drink Specials (Dania) - Dania offers complimentary house beverages while playing. $1 beer, dogs and sodas on Saturday. Happy hour 5-6PM daily. Complimentary sandwich from 1 to 3 PM Mon-Fri. Coffee and sweets served at 3PM to all players. 99 cents Wednesdays (hot dog & fries, 3 wings, 20 oz Coke fountain drinks, 16 oz draft beer, frozen drinks, and soft serve cone).

$500 High Hand Awards (Flagler) - The Magic City Poker Room awards $500 to the high hand every Friday and Saturday night from midnight until closing. Plus, every other player at the table wins $25.

$25,000 Giveaway (Flagler) - All high hand award winners for the month will be entered in a drawing for $5,000 on December 31st. There will be 5 winners.

2009 Isle Poker Classic (Pompano) - The annual tournament gets underway January 1st with a preliminary event ($550 buy-in) and then the multi-day Championship Event ($900). Satellites ($60) are available on Thursdays and Sundays at 1:00PM.

Free Slot Tournaments - December

2008-12-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick look at the weekly free slot tournaments this month:

The Isle - Pompano
Everyone Wins, Play for Free Slot Play - This runs every Tuesday in December from noon to 8PM. To enter, swipe your IsleOne card at the kiosk. The top scorer wins $1,000 in IslePlay. But everyone else wins too. Your prize will be determined on the credits you score during the tournament. For example, 0-39,000 credits wins you $5 in IslePlay (on up to $100 for 100,000+ credits).
Click for more information.

Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood
$50,000 King of the Rock Slot Tournament - This one runs on Mondays through December 22nd. Registration starts at 3PM, sessions start at 4:00. Weekly prizes up to $1,000 are awarded. And there are prizes for the top 25 scorers over the entire length of the tournament.
Click for more information.

Seminole Coconut Creek
Silver Star Slot Tournament - On Saturday December 20th. Registration is at 9AM. Action begins at 11AM. $5,000 in free play.

$200 Travel Coupon

2008-11-30T10:40:00.001-08:00

If you're flying to South Florida or anywhere else, Expedia.com has a great offer for the holiday season.

Here's how it works:

Simply book a flight or flight+hotel for travel now thru January 3rd, 2009. You will then receive a $200 coupon good towards a flight+hotel stay of 5 or more nights (coupon is valid for travel through March 30th, 2009).

Please click here for full details and to book your travel.

Slot Tournaments - September

2008-09-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

Slot tournament fans will have even more action this month with both free and paid-entry events on the calendar:

Friday Free-For-All Slot Tournamets
Where? Gulfstream Park Casino
When? Friday noon to 4PM.
Cost? Free to Good Luck Players Club members
Prizes? 40 prizes each week including $1000 grand prize

Cash is King Slot Tournament
Where? Gulfstream Park Casino
When? Sunday September 28th
Cost? $100
Prizes? $25,000 grand prize

Wacky Wednesday Slot Tournaments
Where? The Isle Pompano
When? Wednesdays 12-3PM & 4-7PM
Prizes? Top 5 scorers, plus randomly selected entrants

The King of Rock Slot Tournaments
Where? Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood
When? Mondays 4PM (registration opens at 3PM)
Cost? Free to Players Club members
Prizes? Prizes for top 3 each week ($1000 for 1st place), plus 25 grand prize winners at conclusion of 10-weeks.

Seniors Slot Tournaments
Where? Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood
When? Tuesdays 9am to 2PM. (Registration starts at 8:30AM)
Cost? Free to Players Club members 55 and older
Prizes? Top five finishers win (cash and free machine play prizes).

Free Slot Tournaments in Miami & Broward

2008-07-20T10:04:00.000-07:00

Slot tournaments are popular promotions in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. And now players can win locally with free weekly slot tournaments in July and August at the Gulfstream Park Casino and the isle Pompano.

The tournaments listed below are free to players club members (membership is free). To participate, players register and then have a designated amount of time (10 minutes) to spin the reels on specially designated machines. At the end of the day, prizes are awarded to those who accumulated the most credits.

Here are the details:

$50,000 Slot Tournament
Where? The Isle Pompano
When? Mondays in July & August, noon to 8PM
Entry Fee? Free
Prizes? $5,000 Weekly Prizes. $10,000 Championship on Sept 6th.
More Info: Click Here.

Free For All Slot Tournaments
Where? Gulfstream Park
When? Fridays in July & August, noon to 3PM.
Entry Fee? Free.
Prizes? $3,000 in Cash and Freeplay ($1,000 Grand Prize, $500 Second Place).
More Info: Click Here.

The Sun Sentinel's Action Blog (link) reports on Monday and VIP slot tournaments at the Seminole Cocnut Creek Casino.

Charity Poker Tournaments - July

2008-07-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

The Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood will host a $3,000 buy-in tournament benefiting the Hollywood Police Athletic League (P.A.L.). Players have a choice of two first days (July 18th or July 19th, 10 AM start time for both days). Then the finale will be held on Sunday July 20th (beginning at 10AM also).

The prize pool is expected to top $500,000 (based on 250 entrants with 80% of the buy-in going to the pool). Players will receive 20,000 chips to start, and rounds last 60 minutes.

Registration opened on July 11th. Click here for the official details.

WSOP Seats Up For Grabs in Charity Poker Tournaments

2008-06-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

Charity poker tournaments are a great way to give a little back to the community and have a good time doing it. Not only that, but these well-run local events offer up some outstanding prizes.

In June the charity poker scene is really heating up. Two tournaments are awarding WSOP entries to the winners (among other great prizes).

Benefiting: Boys & Girls Club of Broward County
When: June 28, 2008 at 7:00PM.
Where: BankAtlantic Center Chairman's Club.
Entry Fee: $200 Players (includes appetizers and 2 drinks). Rebuys & Add-ons available. $30 for spectators.
Prizes: Seat at WSOP. Other prizes for top 5 finishers.
For more information: please click here
Contact: Matt Organ or Lorraine Starr (954)537-1010.

Benefiting: Kids In Distress
When: Thursday June 19, 2008. Check in at 5:30PM.
Where: Ocean Manor Resort Hotel (The Penthouses), Ft Lauderdale.
Entry Fee: $200 Players (food & drink will be served). Re-entry & Add-on available.
Prizes: $10,000 WSOP entry. Other prizes for final table finishers.
More Info: Dos Bullets

Live Blackjack to Debut at Seminole Hard Rock

2008-06-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

According to the Sun Sentinel's gambling blog (link) and now confirmed on the Hard Rock's website (link), the Seminoles have hired 500 dealers, held training and orientation sessions, and are set to start dealing blackjack on June 22nd at the Hollywood Hard Rock (other Seminole properties will follow).

In related news (news link), The Isle at Pompano Park is suing to stop the Seminoles from offering banked card games (Blackjack and baccarat).

Local Poker Jackpots - Bad Beats, Royal Flushes, High Hand Awards

2008-05-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

Our local poker rooms have some tempting jackpots up for grabs. They add a little more excitement to the table and, when the jackpots grow large, they make even the low-limit games quite lucrative (if you're very, very lucky).

The jackpots come in three flavors: bad beat jackpots (usually the largest prizes, but with the longest odds), royal flush jackpots, and high hand awards. Here we'll give a rundown of how the jackpots work, the odds of actually hitting the big score, and where to find each kind of jackpot.

Bad Beat Jackpots - To hit a bad beat jackpot you'll need to lose with a really great hand. In local card rooms, typically the jackpot is awarded when one player holds a full house (aces full of jacks, or a better hand) and another player wins the pot with at least four of a kind. The player with the losing hand would receive 50% of the jackpot, the winner gets 25%, and the other players at the table split the remaining 25%. The rules may vary for different poker rooms and for games other than Texas Hold'em. For example, at Mardi Gras Gaming, the Omaha bad beat jackpot requires quad jacks as the minimum qualifying hand.

Progressive jackpots are funded by an additional rake (typically $1 is taken and put into the jackpot pool when the pot reaches $10). Due to the long odds, under this system the jackpots can grow quite large (usually in the tens of thousands of dollars, and sometimes over $100,000).

There are also non-progressive bad beat awards at some card rooms where the prize amount is fixed by the house and no extra rake is taken from the pot. These awards are much less than the player-contributed jackpots.

Bad Beat Jackpot Odds: According to a simulation run by the Wizard of Odds (website), the odds of hitting a progressive bad beat jackpot with typical rules would be, at best, 1 in 48,000 hands.

Royal Flush Jackpots - To win, all you need to do is hit a royal flush (using both of your hole cards). These jackpots also come in two varieties: progressive jackpots and non-progressive awards.

Odds of Hitting a Royal Flush: 1 in 649,740.

High Hand Awards - Whoever has the highest hand in the card room during a set time period wins a fixed amount. For example, Dania Jai-Alai awards $200 for the high hand during a two hour period twice daily, and the Seminole Hard Rock awards $1000 for the high hand during during one hour time slots (11AM-7PM) Sunday through Thursday.

High Hand Award Odds: largely determined by the number of players in the room.

Where to play for the jackpots:

Dania Jai-Alai
- Progressive Royal Flush Jackpots (Hearts RF Jackpot was $12,398 on May 8th).
- $200 High Hand awards (2 hours, twice daily).

Flagler Dog Track
- Royal Flush jackpots

The Isle at Pompano
- $100 Royal Flush awards.

Seminole Hard Rock
- Bad Beat Jackpots (Texas Hold'Em Jackpot was $52,377 on May 7th, 2008).
- $1000 High Hand awards (hourly Sunday through Thursday from 11AM to 7PM).

Seminole Hollywood Casino
- $1000 Royal Flush awards (monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday).
- $1000 Bad beat awards (aces full fo 8s beaten, Mon-Thurs).

Mardi Gras Gaming
- Bad Beat Jackpots (Texas Hold'Em Jackpot was $35,375 on May 8th, 2008).
- $599 Royal Flush Jackpot.

Scared to Play at the Seminole Hard Rock???

2008-02-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

I'm not. But an editorial in The Northern Star could lead residents and tourist to question game fairness at area tribal casinos, and fear for their safety in the event that they win big.

The Northern Star ("The Magazine for Pari Mutuel Enthusiasts" link) is a free newspaper distributed at local tracks and frontons. Major advertisers include Gulfstream Park, The Isle at Pompano Park, Dania Jai-Alai, Miami Jai-Alai, and the Cheetah strip club.

The piece I am referring to is an opinion written by managing editor Saul Durst for the February issue. In it Mr Durst compares the operators of Indian Casinos to brutal Haitian dictator François "Papa Doc" Duvalier.

Mr Durst recalls a trip to Haiti, where he and his friends hit it big playing Blackjack in a local casino. Upon leaving the casino, they were followed to their hotel by the police who escorted them to their room and instructed them that there would be a car waiting to take them back to the casino the next day. They did go back, and made sure they lost all their winnings because, as Mr Durst puts it: "People disappeared there". He goes on in the next sentence: "I find the same truth may be at the Indian Casinos. Maybe not so drastic but there was no way I would win there so why go?".

I think it's reprehensible to compare the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes to a brutal dictatorial regime. Both tribes have a rich history and culture that is respected and revered by most Floridians. Our state university's athletic programs proudly pay tribute to the Seminole Tribe of Florida.

Besides that, South Florida has a large and vibrant Hatian community, many with first hand knowledge of the events during the Duvalier reign. It is totally inappropriate for The Northern Star to use this example to scare people.

Elsewhere in the article, Mr Durst says he would not play the machines or cards at Indian Casinos because he "wouldn't know if they have someone controlling the results" and that he was taught to stay away from the "shady places". I don't know what the house edge is for the slots at the Seminole Hard Rock, but the machines are manufactured by industry leaders like IGT and Bally. These companies produce many of the most popular slot machines found in heavily regulated gaming jurisdictions like Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and elsewhere (even South Florida Pari-Mutuels). I seriously doubt either company would jeopardize it's worldwide market share by producing unfair games for use in a South Florida Indian Casino.

The tribal casinos and pari-mutuels are in a fierce competition for the local gambling market share. It's just business. But this article crosses the line, and I find its distribution at our local tracks and frontons shameful.

Roulette and Blackjack Now Playing at Hard Rock

2008-02-12T10:33:00.000-08:00

It will be some time before the Seminole Hard Rock installs the live table games (bj and baccarat) included in the compact signed by Governor Crist, but in the meantime gamblers can enjoy electronic versions of Roulette and Blackjack.

800 Class III Las Vegas style slots debuted in late January, replacing some of the existing Class II Electronic Bingo slots. Among those machines are electronic roulette, blackjack, and keno games.

But be forewarned: the house edge is inflated from the normal table versions of these games.

Electronic Roulette - These machines are manufactured by Bally, and have a long, vertical screen depicting a roulette wheel with 36 numbers and a single zero. However, unlike traditional roulette which pays 35 for a single number bet, these only pay 32 (31-1). According to The Wizard of Odds website (link), the difference in house edge is astronomical: 2.7% for the traditional single-zero live game, and over 13% for the electronic version.

Electronic Blackjack - These are Game King (IGT) Multi-Game machines with blackjack, 7/5 Jacks or Better video poker, and keno. The blackjack game has several disadvantages for the player: 1) blackjack pays even money, 2) splitting of pairs is not allowed, and 3) you cannot double down. I couldn't find out the house edge for this game, but paying even money rather than 3-2 for blackjack alone increases it by 2.27% over the traditional game (link).

Breaking News: Hard Rock to Roll Out Las Vegas Style Slots Monday

2008-01-25T07:15:00.000-08:00

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino will debut Class III slot machines beginning Monday January 28, 2008 at 11:30AM. The 1000 new Vegas-Style slots will replace existing Class II Electronic Bingo slot machine versions. The rollout will include such titles as Wheel of Fortune, Hot Shot, and Playboy slot machines.

We'll check it out and have a report next week.

Dania's $25 Multi-Table Poker Tournaments

2008-01-22T13:51:00.000-08:00

A couple recent entries by David Anesta and Nick Sortal in the Sun Sentinel's gambling blog (link) got me interested in Dania's $25 multitable tournaments, so I decided to check it out last Saturday.

This would be my first ever live tournament, and I had never been to Dania's poker room before; so I was a bit nervous and had no idea what I would face in terms of atmosphere and competition as I arrived and headed up the escalator to the card room. Hopefully I wouldn't get knocked out too quickly after having made the drive up from North Miami.

The first thing that struck me was what a great looking room they've put together. The area, which has about 30 tables with a liquor bar and a snack bar, has decor that is warm and attractive without being too extravagant.

They have everything well-organized for the even too. You just walk up to a sign-up table, pay your fee, and receive a slip of paper indicating your table and position. When everyone gets seated you receive 4000 tournament chips plus a bounty chip You also have the option to buy 500 additional chips for $5, which goes to the dealers' tips.

And then the action begins...

The game is very friendly with people of varying levels of skill, and all ages. I wasn't the only tournament newbie, and the other players and the dealers are tolerant of novice questions and mistakes.

On this Saturday afternoon, there were about 60 entrants and it wasn't long before some big hands went up against each other. Players were eliminated at a steady clip right from the start (this is a $5 bounty tournament, so when a player knocks another out, he or she receives the loser's bounty chip, which is good for $5).

I played pretty tightly through the first hour, caught some breaks, and managed to accumulate a decent stack of about 9000 chips by the time they called a 15 minute break at the two hour mark. Following the break, there were 18 players left seated at two tables. The blinds and antes were growing and eating into everyone's stack, so the excitement built as one dramatic all-in raise followed another.

At this point I was choking, as I laid down two good hands (pocket 8s and AQ suited) to pre-flop raises. With a dwindling stack, I knew I had to shove my chips in soon and had blown two opportunities to double up. When the blinds came back around I was sweating it out with only 5000 chips. There were 15 players left and the final 10 would make the final table. I looked at Ace-Jack in the big blind, and called all-in to the loose-raising small blind. He turned up A9, so I had him dominated, but a 9 on the flop spelled the end of my first tournament.

I was mildly disappointed with the finish, but had a good time with the other players for almost 3 hours and gained some tournament experience. Not bad for $30!

I'll definitely be back to many more of these tournies. Besides a comfortable poker room, Dania has a top-notch staff. Everyone is friendly and approachable, from the floor manager and dealers, to the wait staff and snack bar servers.

If you're thinking about going, here are the $25 tournament details:

What? $25 Multi-Table No-Limit Texas Hold'Em Tournament
Where? Dania Jai-Alai
When? Sat @ 1:30PM, Fri @ 3PM, Mon & Wed @ 6:30PM
Cost? $25 plus $5 optional add-on for 500 chips (add-on funds go to dealer tips)
Rake? Entry includes $5 house fee and $3 to Bad Beat Jackpot fund.
Jackpot Eligibility? Players are eligible for the Bad Beat Jackpot but not for the $100 high-hand awards.
Tournament structure? 4000 starting chips, 20 minute blinds.

Gulfstream's Free $50 Gas Card Promo No Great Shakes for Video Poker Players

2008-01-14T06:20:00.000-08:00

Gulfstream Park Casino runs some decent promos for its Good Luck Players Club members including drawings and monthly credit voucher mailings, but the free $50 BP Gas Card giveaway is
not worth the time and gas money.

Here's how it works: The promotion runs every Friday in January, and you need to accumulate 100 players club points on the machines between the hours of 10AM and 8PM to
earn a $50 BP gas card.

This sounded great! Provided the casino offers respectable odds on its games and they aren't too tight with the players club points, a
$50 gift card could be a nice consolation in the (likely) event of a losing session.

I love video poker and Gulfstream issued a press release
(link) on January 2nd, stating that their new video poker section would be open "in plenty of time for the thoroughbred meeting", which began on January 3rd. Video poker offers the
best odds in the casino, and I fully expected to find some worthwhile machines to play.

Boy was I wrong :(

To begin with, workers were still installing the new casino on Friday, January 4th (the second day of the race meet). Only The Casino on the second floor was open and the video poker paytables there are
atrocious.

For example, they have 7/5 Jacks or Better (JOB) machines in denominations from 25-cents to 1-dollar (Note: The 7 refers to the number of coins paid out for a full house, and 5 refers to flush).
The theoretical payout on these machines is a measely 96.1% (for players using perfect strategy and with max-coins bet). For comparison, a full-pay 9/6 JOB machine has a payout of almost 99.55%. In other words, the house edge is 8X greater for 7/5 (3.9% house edge) compared to the 9/6 game (0.45% house edge).

Ouch!

With such stingy machines, I knew it was going to be tough earning a gas card unless the casino was generous with it players club points (a casino with tight games should make up for it with comp points). But here again, the casino was extremely tight. On 25-cent video poker, the casino awards players club points at a rate of 2 per $100 wagered. Therefore, to earn 100 points,
you will need to place wagers totaling $5,000.

Ouch again!!

Let's do some math now: $5,000 X 3.9% = $195.00. That's the player's expected losses playing $5,000 worth of 7/5 Jacks or Better.

Ouch a third time!!!

My last hope was the cashback / comp system. But here again the casino is too tight. According to the Gulfstream Park website (link), comps can be redeemed at a rate of $1 per $100 points and you need 500 points for your initial redemption. That means you would have to play $25,000 of video poker to earn $5 in comps.

So to review, we need to play $5,000 of video poker, which entails expected losses of $195 to earn one $50 gas card and $1 in comps.

How dumb do they think we are??

A brighter tomorrow? By Friday January 11th, the new video poker section was operational at Gulfstream. Jacks or Better is reportedly available with 8/5 (25 and 50 cent machines) and 9/5 (1 dollar) paytables. The
theoretical return on these machines are 97.3%and 98.4%, respectively, which leads to projected losses of $135 and $80 for $5,000 worth of play.

So things are getting a little bit better, but 25-cent players would be advised that Mardi Gras Casino has 9/5 JOB (even without a free gas card, players are better off at a 9/5 JOB machine rather than 8/5).

So anyways...No thanks Gulfstream, I'll buy my own gas.