April 29th, 2009 by admin

The chairman of a commission charged with awarding Maryland’s five casino licenses said Tuesday that “there’s more optimism” these days for a gambling-related windfall to state coffers despite a recession and lackluster initial interest from the private sector.

Donald C. Fry, a former Harford County delegate who heads the politically appointed panel, said he based his hopeful prognosis on new expectations that a full-scale casino will come to downtown Baltimore and on preliminary feedback from consultants hired to advise the commission.

In February, prospects for a slots-funded bailout of Maryland’s structural budget deficit fizzled when officials acknowledged that two of just six bidders for five gambling licenses failed to submit millions of dollars in legally required fees and that Baltimore’s applicant proposed a small, 500-machine parlor. That bidder, Baltimore Casino Entertainment Group LP, pledged to the city this month that it now intends to build a 3,750-machine casino, the maximum size allowed under the law.

At a commission meeting in Annapolis on Tuesday, consultants with PricewaterhouseCoopers told panelists that the recession-wracked gambling economy should recover “in the latter part of 2010″ and that regional markets with monopoly-like licenses - as in Maryland - would better withstand the economic downturn than “destination” areas such as Las Vegas or Atlantic City.
Though the bids in Maryland were few, Michael French, the lead consultant, said the state had the “good fortune” of being courted by experienced operators, such as Pennsylvania-based Penn National Gaming Inc.

In a March 6 letter to the commission, Penn National, the sole bidder for the Cecil County slots license, said it intends to construct a 1,500-machine casino in Perryville - three times the size of the 500-machine parlor it proposed in February. The largest proposed casino would be a 4,750-machine slots parlor at Arundel Mills mall, though that project faces a zoning fight in the County Council.

Gov. Martin O’Malley and the Democratic leadership in Annapolis are counting on about $600 million in annual slots-related tax revenue to partly fix a structural deficit within three years.

Despite the generally upbeat tone of Tuesday’s meeting, two members of the seven-person slots commission voiced misgivings.

Thomas P. Barbera, a retired health care executive, said he worried that having only one viable bid per site lessened the commission’s “leverage” on the bidders. And D. Bruce Poole, a Hagerstown attorney and former lawmaker, said he wanted the consultants to look into whether the state’s 67 percent tax rate on gambling operators - among the highest in the country - was dampening interest, thereby preventing the state from getting “the best deal for the taxpayers.”

French told Poole he believed the anemic bidding was largely the result of the economy and “bad timing,” not the state’s tax structure.

April 21st, 2009 by admin

Table games at casinos are supposed to be fun. But unfortunately, prickly dealers and players can sully the experience — especially if they violate basic table etiquette. So to help ensure that your (and everyone else’s) next trip to the blackjack table is fun for everyone, here are ten things you should never do while playing blackjack:

10. Touch your bet after the cards have been dealt

This is a big no, no. Even if it looks like that nice chip stack you bet is about to collapse, to don’t reach over and try to straighten it out. It will look like you’re trying to either increase your bet (if your cards are good), or decrease your bet (if your cards stink). Either way, it gives the impression that you’re trying to cheat the casino, so don’t do it.

9. Forget to use hand symbols

In a noisy casino, the dealer can’t always hear what you want to do. Plus, the eye in sky (yes, they’re video taping everything you do) needs to be able to clearly record your intent as well, in case there’s a dispute. So use hand signals at the table to signal your action. Scratch the felt (lightly) by pulling your finger toward yourself if you want another card. Wave your hand parallel to the table and over your cards if you don’t want any more cards. And if you want to double down or split, slide your new bet next to your original bet.

8. Buy insurance

This is the first of two tips that has nothing to do with etiquette. Buying insurance (it’s offered whenever the dealer has an ace showing) is generally a really bad play, so don’t do it.

7. Tell another player how to play

There are a few things (well — six to be exact) more annoying than telling another player how to play blackjack. Unless you are specifically asked, do not offer unsolicited advice. It slows the game down. It frustrates the player who is trying to make his own decision. It’s obnoxious. And you never want to be the person who everyone else is talking about after they leave the table.

6. Get drunk

Ordering drinks while the game is going on (rather than in between games) is bad enough. But getting drunk at the table is even worse. Mean or happy, drunks don’t make good blackjack players. They slow the game down, make incoherent conversation with other players and generally kill the mood at the table. Don’t be that person.

5. Touch the cards

At most blackjack tables, players are not allowed to handle the cards. So don’t do it. Don’t try and straighten them out to be even. Don’t try to nudge them so they’re easier to read. Just don’t touch them. If you do, the assumption is you are trying to cheat. And casinos don’t like that.

4. Ignore Basic Strategy

Yes, this isn’t an etiquette tip. But it’s still a very important tip. Basic Strategy is good blackjack strategy. So use it. Either learn it on the flight/drive over to the casino or buy a Basic Strategy card at the gift shop and familiarize yourself with it (some casinos will even let you use that card at the table). Either way, by using Basic Strategy, you can reduce the house edge in blackjack to less than 1%. Plus, watching other people play blackjack poorly just isn’t fun. So for the sake of your fellow players, please use Basic Strategy.

3. Blame another player

Don’t blame another player’s “bad decision” for ruining your hand. That’s not the way blackjack works. First of all, results — good and bad — wash out over time regardless of what decisions are made. Secondly, the actions of other players don’t affect the chances for you to have a winning hand. Those chances are the same regardless of how another person plays their cards. So the next time the player next to you draws a card that you believe should have been yours, take a deep breath, relax and calm down. You might draw a card that works for you. Or you might not. But that player hasn’t affected your chance to win.

2. Berate another player

Even worse than blaming another player for a losing hand is yelling and screaming at other players. Yes, it happens. Yes, it’s ridiculous. And yes, it really sucks when you double down with an 11 and draw a two. But that’s no reason to go Phil Hellmuth on another player. Stuff like that happens in blackjack all the time. Just let it roll of your back and concentrate on having a good time.

1. Ignore the dealer

Believe it or not, the dealer is there to help you have fun and make sure you don’t break the rules, so pay attention to the dealer. If the dealer pauses after you make a decision, it could be his way of telling you to reconsider your decision. That’s when you ask what the book says — almost every dealer knows basic strategy like the back of their hand — to get some more information before you make your decision. If you have a good run of cards, tip the dealer. They’ll be appreciative and more likely to help you with tougher decisions. If you include the dealer in table conversation, you’ll find the game moves faster and is a whole lot more enjoyable. Dealers who are enjoying themselves will often help you with the finer points of the game as well. In short, if you pay attention to the dealer, good things will happen. And at a casino, that’s all you can ask for.

April 19th, 2009 by admin

Cryptologic, one of online gambling’s premiere software developer, and known for their interesting and exclusive deals with some of the largest companies out there, have done it again. Today, they signed a deal with Paramount Pictures, granting exclusive access to Cryptologic and allowing them to use their Hollywood movies as themes for some new and innovative online slot games they are developing.

Some of the titles that will be used include Braveheart and Forrest Gump. However, Paramount is allowing Cryptologic inspiration from many more than just the two titles. They have been granted access to more than twenty Paramount movies in order to create new Internet games. Some other titles that will be used include Beverley Hills Cop, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Beowulf, and Ghost.

“Paramount Pictures boasts an extensive catalog of classic and new releases, and Cryptologic makes the world’s best branded Internet casino games. It’s been proven that Cryptologic’s branded games drive Internet casino revenue – and we look forward to a mutually profitable relationship with this global entertainment leader,” said Cryptologic CEO Brian Hadfield.

It is unsure whether Cryptologic has been granted full access to the entire suite of Paramount movies, which include classics such as The Godfather Trilogy and the Indiana Jones adventures. Little is known about the deal except for the details outlined above.
Cryptologic plans to develop and market its own online gaming site strictly dedicated to movie themed slots. The deal has raised speculation that Cryptologic plans to branch out into the online casino business as well as supplying casino software.