The IP Casino Resort & Spa in Biloxi is truly a one-stop destination with plenty of excitement and amenities for everyone. This premier Mississippi Gulf Coast hot spot likes to keep its options fresh.

“We want something new every time people come,†says General Manager Jon Lucas. “Gaming is first and foremost, but we believe we’re a full-destination resort, and the non-gaming components are important. We have what I call differentiators that set us apart, including entertainment, restaurants and a state-of-the-art spa.â€

Something new seems to be the norm at this rebranded property. “The cove area is one of our newest areas, and it’s probably the prettiest area we have,†Lucas says. “Right now we have 2,000 machines in the whole gaming area, and we’re always adding the latest, newest machines. We work hard with our marketing partners and vendors to ensure we have new games.†(more…)

Tucked away in the cotton fields of Tunica Resorts, Miss., behind the levee close to the Mississippi River’s edge, is a casino and resort like no other — Hollywood Casino and Hotel Tunica.

The award-winning casino property is a 5-â€Smile†resort where you are the star. Hollywood Tunica offers movie memorabilia, Southern hospitality, luxury accommodations, golf, a variety of dining and the 24-hour excitement of the casino floor. (more…)

Answering the million dollar question, Basil Nestor discusses the best strategies when approaching slots.

Q: I often see other people win big jackpots when they’re playing slots, but not me. Am I doing something wrong? How can I find slots that will let me win?

A: Keep in mind that winning a jackpot doesn’t necessarily make someone a net winner. How much did that person lose before hitting the big one? Also remember that nearly all slot games have a “negative-expectation” for players. In other words, you can win today, win tomorrow, and win five times next week, but the casino still has an advantage. If you continue to play, the machines will eventually take it all back. That’s how casinos earn a profit. (more…)

WMS Gaming
Goldfish 2

Introducing Goldfish 2, WMS Gaming’s first Transmissive Reels Bluebird 2 Bonus Bank series. This visually mesmerizing 5-Reel Mechanical series brings back the successful and player-favorite Goldfish theme, with five new fish bonuses! With the help of WMS’ patented Transmissive Reels technology, fish can now swim across mechanical reels to award credits, multipliers and free spins. It’s a whole new way to play Goldfish!

As in the original Goldfish game, fish bonuses can be triggered at the conclusion of any spin when the extra bonus bet is made. There are five fish bonuses in all, including free spins, multipliers, credit awards and more!

(more…)

(As reported by We Do It All Vegas)   The Las Vegas Hilton brings you a new and exciting slots tournament that takes you around the world, with the final destination being the vacation of your dreams. This Vegas Hilton themed slots tournament takes you to 12 exotic destinations in a monthly $75,000 slots tournament.

 

 

(more…)

(As reported by Las Vegas Gaming Wire)LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Slot machine giant International Game Technology announced Tuesday it acquired “substantially all of the assets” of Progressive Gaming International Corp., which was foreclosed and liquidated last week by one of its lenders.

No price was given.

(more…)

NEW ORLEANS, La. (November 12, 2008) – They’ve been racing horses on this site for a century and a half, but Friday will rank among the biggest days in the storied history of Fair Grounds. Not only will the track embark on its winter racing season – two weeks earlier than in recent years – but it will officially open its new slot-machine gaming facility.

The ribbon cutting ceremony for the slots facility gets underway at 8:30 a.m. Friday, in time for the doors to open at 9. The first race will leave the gate at 12:30 p.m. An invitation-only VIP party in the evening rounds out Opening Day.

More than just brick and mortar is new as the nation’s third-oldest track counts down to its 137th season.

Austin Miller, who has been at Fair Grounds since last summer, was promoted to president last month.

“Fair Grounds is one of the jewels in the crown that is the sports scene of New Orleans,†Miller said. “With the start of a new racing season and the opening of our new slots facility, we begin the next chapter and take a more prominent place in our city’s sports and entertainment landscape.â€

Two other key figures also begin new roles. Vice president and general manager of racing Eric Halstrom joined the Fair Grounds team last week, while Louisiana native Jason Boulet begins his first season as Fair Grounds’ racing secretary.

After operating with as many as 250 slot machines for the past 14 months, the new facility can hold up to 700 machines. It opens with slightly more than 600.

The 33,000-square-foot expansion also features a 120-seat Grandstand Buffet on the second floor, which will be open for lunch and dinner daily; two eateries and a bar adjacent to the gaming floor; a high-limit slots area, and two VIP rooms, one each for slots and horse racing customers.

In conjunction with the opening of the slots facility, dark day and evening simulcasting will relocate to the east end of the grandstand. It has been in the west grandstand since May 2007.

The earlier start to the meet is a direct result of the enhanced purse pool because of alternative gaming. Instead of adding weekdays within the previous 18-week structure, track and Churchill Downs Incorporated management decided to expand the schedule by two weekends.

With the opening of the slots facility, an additional entrance for slots customers was created near Gentilly Boulevard. The valet parking entrance has also been restored. Along with the entrances at each end of the track apron, customers and horsemen now have five ways to enter the facility.

Fair Grounds will offer live racing Thursday through Sunday (except Nov. 20, Christmas, Feb. 26 and March 26) and add Mondays from Dec. 22 through Feb. 23. The track will also race on New Year’s Eve and Mardi Gras (Feb. 24).

The slots facility is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until midnight and Sunday from 10 a.m.-midnight.

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest Thoroughbred racing facility, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and nine off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. Fair Grounds’ 137th Thoroughbred season will run from Nov. 14, 2008, through March 29, 2009, and its inaugural Quarter Horse meet was conducted from Aug. 20-24, 2008. Information about Fair Grounds can be found on the Internet at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.

FACTS ABOUT SLOTS AT FAIR GROUNDS
 
Facility Grand Opening: November 14, 2008

Hours of Operation: Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m.-midnight

Location/Dimensions: 33,000-square-foot facility located adjacent to grandstand on southeast corner of property

Cost of Slots Project: $30 million

Number of Machines: Up to 700

Denominations: Range from penny to $5; largest number of low-denomination (nickel or less) games in New Orleans market

Manufacturers: Aristocrat, Bally, IGT, Konami, Williams

New Customer Amenities: High limit slots area, slots VIP lounge, horse racing VIP gold room, new simulcasting area on east end of grandstand

New Food and Beverage Areas: Grandstand Buffet located on second floor (open for lunch and dinner daily), two “grab-and-go†style eateries (Gentilly Grill, DeSaix Deli) and bar (Twin Spires Tavern) adjacent to gaming floor

Number of Employees: 820 (650 at Fair Grounds, including 180 in slots facility; 170 at nine off-track betting facilities in southeast Louisiana)

MANY WILL BENEFIT

18% is contributed to purses and breeders’ funds for Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing.

Up to 22.5% of the remaining money goes to state and city taxes

Of the state’s share, the following will directly benefit:

City Park
Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation
Algiers Economic Development Foundation
New Orleans Urban Tourism & Hospitality Training and Economic Development Foundation
New Orleans Beautification Project
Friends of NORD
Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District  

SLOTS TIMELINE
 
May 2003 – Louisiana Legislature passes a bill allowing slots at Fair Grounds, if approved by voters in Orleans Parish.
Oct. 4, 2003 – Orleans Parish voters pass a referendum allowing slots at the track, with 58 percent voting “yes.â€
Oct. 14, 2004 – Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) purchases Fair Grounds and related interests from Krantz family.
April 19, 2005 – CDI receives license to operate slot machines at Fair Grounds from Louisiana Gaming Control Board.
June 16, 2005 – New Orleans City Council approves Fair Grounds’ plans to operate slots facility, including construction of permanent facility. The goal is to open the permanent facility in late 2006.
Aug. 22, 2005 – Test pilings for the permanent facility are driven.
Aug. 29, 2005 – Hurricane Katrina forces Fair Grounds to move its 2005-06 racing season to Louisiana Downs and temporarily halts slots plans.
Nov. 23, 2006 – Racing returns to New Orleans as Fair Grounds opens its 135th season in front of a crowd of 8,732.
Feb. 14, 2007 – Fair Grounds and CDI announce plans to move forward with slot machine gaming and begin approval process for temporary facility.
Sept. 19, 2007 – Temporary slots facility opens with up to 250 machines.
Nov. 14, 2008 – Grand opening of permanent slots facility, which features up to 700 machines.

NEW ORLEANS, La. (October 14, 2008) – Tuesday marks exactly one month until one of the biggest days in Fair Grounds’ storied history. On Friday, Nov. 14, Fair Grounds will hold a morning ribbon-cutting as it unveils its new slot-machine gaming facility. That afternoon, the track will embark on its 137th season of Thoroughbred racing. Grand Opening Day will conclude with a VIP party in the evening.

While the temporary slots facility continues to operate, the final touches are being placed on the permanent facility, which will feature up to 700 games on a 15,000-square-foot floor, a 140-seat buffet and two “grab-and-go†dining options.

The new slots facility is on the southeast side of the property, near the public entrance at Gentilly Boulevard.

The racetrack has served as a training center for the last month. The backstretch will officially open Wednesday to those who will be stabled here this winter.

This year’s meet will feature record overnight purses of approximately $300,000 per day and a $6.6 million stakes schedule, headlined as always by the Grade II Louisiana Derby, which is scheduled for March 14, 2009.

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest Thoroughbred racing facility, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and nine off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. Fair Grounds’ 137th Thoroughbred season will run from Nov. 14, 2008, through March 29, 2009, and its inaugural Quarter Horse meet was conducted from Aug. 20-24, 2008. Information about Fair Grounds can be found on the Internet at www.fairgroundsracecourse.com.

STAR TREK
Manufacturer: WMS Gaming
From the makers of Community Gaming, Sensory Immersion Gaming, and Transmissive Reels Gaming comes WMS’ latest revolutionary product category: Adaptive Gaming. Debuting with the immensely popular “Star Trek†brand, Adaptive Gaming provides a completely immersive environment that adjusts to players’ personal accomplishments and preferences unlike anything seen on the casino floor.

Players are transported through three distinct “episodes†in the “Star Trek†adventure: Explore New Worlds, The Trouble with Tribbles and Trek Through Time. To unlock “Star Trek†episodes, players earn medals by choosing the type of bonus they wish to enter, either a picking bonus or a free spin bonus.

After any winning spin, players making an extra 10 credit bet are eligible to randomly enter one of four Win Warp features to increase their winnings even further. Through a chosen ID or printed ticket, players save their accomplishments and may resume their game by entering their ID or re-inserting their ticket when returning to any “Star Trek†machine.

Star Trek: TM © 2008 CBS Studios Inc. All rights reserved. “Star Trek†and related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc.

Happy Daysâ„¢
Manufacturer: WMS Gaming
Happy Days™, based on the iconic television show, adds a new dimension of game play within the mystery progressive segment by randomly awarding one of five free spin amounts to eligible players with the Happy Days Mystery Free Spin Bonus. Eligible players contribute to the local area progressive, just as they would in a normal multi-level progressive, but in Happy Days they aren’t driving up dollar or credit amounts, but the free spin amounts! In addition, players can amplify their wins during free-spin through their individual Happy Days Multiplier. The more credits players bet and the quicker they play, the higher their multiplier will climb. And once the Happy Days Mystery Free Spin Bonus triggers, players play each of the free spins they have won at their current Happy Days Multiplier! It’s a whole new way to look at progressives!

The other day I was listening to a CD by one of my favorite singers, Sheryl Crow. Although I have heard her songs hundreds of times, I started thinking about the words as she was singing “If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad.â€

Isn’t happiness what most of us really strive for in life? While many things can be bad for you if you over indulge, doctors have proven that happiness can greatly improve a person’s health and well being. Our fore fathers believed so strongly in this idea they included it in The Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.â€

As I was giving this idea more consideration, my thoughts started drifting to why people visit the casinos and the reason they play casino games. Although I constantly advise people to look at their visit to the casino as entertainment, I came to the realization that at times I have been guilty of ignoring this fact in some of my columns. As an advantage player, I am always seeking to play the games where I have an edge or play the games that offer the lowest house edge. Much of my advice suggests that others to do the same thing and stay away from the high house edge games such as slot machines. I tend to lose sight that the main reason people play the slot machines is because it makes them happy.

Creative Endeavors

Over the last 10 years, slot machines have been casinos’ top money makers, generating more revenue than all table games combined. The fact that players are willing to play a game they know has a high house edge is a testament to the creative genius of the slot designers. Once the technology became possible to produce the modern video slot machines with multi-lines and life-changing jackpots, it was up to the slot game designers to produce the games that would interest the players.

Their challenge was to get away from the old spinning reel concept and create games that would entertain a diverse, multi-generation slot-playing public. They had the younger generation who grew up playing video games, the Baby Boomers who witnessed the start of the “electronic revolution,†as well as their parents who had played the early mechanical machines. They met the challenge head on and created a product that would change the face of the gaming industry.

Pop Icons

Life is full of uncertainties. Most of us love nostalgia because it brings us back to something that is familiar and makes us feel comfortable. This concept has not been overlooked by the slot makers. A walk through the casino is like a walk down memory lane to many of us. They have adopted themes for the slot games that incorporate many of the pop icons we grew up with. Games based on old TV shows such as “The Adams Family,†“I Dream of Genie†and “The Beverly Hillbillies†can be found on the casino floor as well as games based on movies like “Star Wars†and “The Terminator.†Basing the games on a familiar theme offers an instant comfort level with the game making it more likely players will give it a try.

Bonus Rounds and Secondary Games

In our fast-paced world, most of us are used to “multi-tasking,†which is our fancy term for doing more than one thing at a time. We are a generation on the go, and, at times, it seems like we are looking for a way not to waste a single second. The desire to multi-task carries over into our leisure activities and may explain our fascination with the new bonus games offered by the slot makers.

Bonus rounds and special secondary screens have been added to many slot games. This gives the player something else to look forward to while they are playing the game. For many players, reaching the bonus screen is almost as exciting as having a winning spin. They look forward to the diversion of the bonus games.

Have Fun

Casino gambling is all about entertainment. The slot makers have done their best to produce games that will entertain us and make us happy, and as Sheryl Crow sings, If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad.

Enjoy the slots! Until next time remember: Luck comes and goes … knowledge stays forever.

Bill Burton is the Casino Gambling Columnist for the Internet portal About.com. His website is located at casinogambling.about.com. He is the author of “1000 Best Casino Gambling Secrets†and he is the author of “Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold ’em†available at www.billburton.com. He is an instructor for Golden Touch Craps (www.goldentouchcraps.com). He also writes for several national gambling publications.
 

ANDERSON, Ind. – Indiana’s first fully integrated casino and racetrack opened this morning when the official first dollar slid into one of 2,000 new state-of-the art slot machines at the Las Vegas-style Hoosier Park Racing & Casino in Anderson.

 Hoosier Park owners and executives, along with community leaders and local citizens, celebrated the opening of the new 92,000-square-foot casino building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Speakers included Anderson mayor, Kris Ockomon; Hoosier Park Racing & Casino’s general managers of gaming and racing, Jim Brown and Rick Moore, respectively; and Rod Ratcliff, chairman and CEO of Centaur, Inc., which owns Hoosier Park.

 “Welcome to our ‘Field of Dreams,’†said Ratcliff. “It has been a long and rewarding journey to arrive at this point.†Ratcliff went on to thank Anderson city officials and local legislators who have worked alongside Centaur over the years to pass the necessary legislation.

 The first dollar was played by Mrs. Virgil (Maxine) Cook. Virgil Cook, a long-time Anderson resident, made possible the use of the land on which the facility resides. His name also graces the road outside the facility: Virgil Cook Boulevard.

 As Mayor Ockomon commented during the program, “I am proud to be the mayor of Anderson on a day like today.â€

 After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, casino doors opened to the general public for all to try their luck at machines featuring the latest in slot and marketing technology, including interlinked progressives and multi-player electronic table games. All qualified guests who sign up today for the Player’s Club will earn $10 in credits to be used on any of the electronic gaming devices.

 “We’re in the process of setting the bar for products and services at Indiana’s gaming facilities,†Brown said. “When we say ‘We will thrill you!’ it’s not just a catchy slogan, it’s a promise indicative of the experience we will deliver to our visitors each and every day.â€

 Hoosier Park’s permanent casino will now remain open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. Hoosier Park also features live horse racing from April through November, as well as simulcast wagering all year round. Nine new bars and restaurants have also opened for business.

 “We have a fully integrated entertainment center,†said Moore. “Today, Anderson has become a destination.â€

 More information about forthcoming events and promotions is available on the Hoosier Park Web site at www.hoosierpark.com, or by calling 800/526-7223.

(Las Vegas)- Cyberview Technologies thinks they may have answered the question of how to attract younger players away from the table games and turn them in to slot junkies; videogames.  At G2E, an annual industry trade show in Las Vegas, the company debued a proptype game, Glaxium, a videogame-like slot machine.

Here is how it works: As the player, you take control of spaceship flying through an alien landscape. As you dodge the enemy fighters bullets and asteroids coming at you, you can pick up extra weapons and destroy boulders. The attacks eventually progress until your spaceship too is destroyed. Each explosion acts like a pull of arm, activating the random number generator. And of course, to keep you playing, you have an infinite numbe rof lives! (As posted on Wired.com)

To read more about this story click here.

(Indiana)- Slated to open June 2, pending regulatory approval, construction on Hoosier Park Racing & Casino is set to be completed on time and on budget. 

Unlike other Indiana casinos, Hoosier will become the first “racino” in the state, merging horseracing with casino gaming. The casino will offer up 2,000 of the hottest slots and electronic table games, but no craps tables, blackjack tables, roulette wheels, or other games of chance requiring dealers and house attendants.

Hoosier has received over 4,000 applications for the 500-600 jobs that will be created by the casino side of Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. This couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. East Central Indiana’s economy has been hit hard by the faltering automotive industry and loss of manufacturing jobs. 

Officials and the citizens of Anderson are hoping that the $100 million expansion will kick-start the economy. 

The state has already received a $250 million licensing fee, and will get 30 percent of revenues, expected to be $400 million for the first five years. It is also expected that the 172,000 square-foot gaming-racing-dining site would also contribute an extra $200 million to the regional horse-racing industry and an extra $40 million to the local economies over the next five years.