Casino mix Friday the 13th, Valentine's Day, Presidents' Day
Triskaidekaphobia relief, Valentine’s Day options and patriotic promotions:
The Isle Casino and Racing in Pompano Beach is having a Friday the 13th Sweepstakes, giving away up to $50,000 in cash and $5,000 in free play. Patrons pick up entry tickets for the $1,000 hourly drawings, set for 6-9 tonight. If the symbol on your ticket matches what is spun on the Isle’s Mystery Wheel, the prize doubles. At 10, one name will be drawn for the grand prize of $5,000 cash. It becomes $10,000 if the symbol on the entry matches the symbol on the prize wheel.
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino poker room has four drawings for Valentine’s Day packages, at 10 a.m., 2, 6 and 10 p.m. Feb. 13. Talk about cutting it close. The winner of each drawing gets dinner for two at Council Oak ($160 value), a room for two in the hotel and concert tickets to a show in Hard Rock Live.
Seminole Coconut Creek has a “Break a Heart” promotion from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Break a heart balloon and get the prize attached. On Sunday, it’s a “Presidential Car Giveaway,” with 10 free-play winners and a grand prize of a Lincoln MKX.
On Monday, the Creek is going all George Washington on us. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., redeem 4,000 Players’ Club points for a cherry pie. But, of course, the pie is stuffed with a prize of cash or free play. Top prize: $2,000.
Gulfstream Casino and Racing is conducting a “hot seat” promotion from 8-11 p.m. on Monday (Presidents’ Day). The casino is giving away a $100 U.S. Savings Bond every 20 minutes.
NICK SORTAL began playing 3-card "gut" and "Indian poker" on high school band trips, moved on to "night baseball" and "pass the trash" during a Dr. Pepper-infused midnight game in the 1980s at the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, and now play in a regular neighborhood Hold 'Em game in Plantation. I have been given the assignment of writing about the gambling life in South Florida casinos for the Sun-Sentinel...which means sitting around watching poker on TV now counts as research.