By Tom Jicha and Nick Sortal

Kentucky Derby 2009 will be what it should be: one of the biggest days of the year for racing fans.

Calder and Gulfstream will be taking full-card simulcasting from Churchill Downs. The dog tracks and jai alai frontons (Dania, Mardi Gras and the Isle ), which are prohibited from taking thoroughbred bets until 6 p.m., also will be taking Derby action all day Friday and Saturday because the listed post for the Run for the Roses is 6:04 Saturday. (Palm Beach Kennel says it's at 6:25 p.m.)

This is unlike last year when Kentucky Derby day was one of the most chaotic in South Florida racing history. During the week leading up to America’s most famous race, the word was local fans were going to be shut out of betting on the Derby and its stakes-rich under card because of a dispute between horsemen and Calder.

A compromise was struck on Derby eve. Calder would not be allowed to accept wagering on the full Derby card but Gulfstream, which was open for simulcasting, would. Fans flocked to the Hallandale track, which, because of the late notice, wasn’t fully prepared to handle the crowds. Many bettors were shut out anyway.

This year both tracks are well prepared and have special events and promotions planned.
Racing fans who want to make a day of it will be treated to a party atmosphere at Calder, which has live racing.

The theme of the day is Florida vs. Kentucky at special food and drink stands. Fans will be able to purchase mint juleps, the traditional Derby adult beverage, or mojitos. Derby pie will be available, as will key lime pie. Burgoo (one of those delicious stews for which you don’t want to know the ingredients) will be an option to paellla.

Admission and general parking is free at both tracks for those who want to just bet the race, then watch from home.

Palm Beach Kennel Club has a "finest hat" contest early in the afternoon and is selling $4 mint juleps ($5 if you want the glass, too).

Meanwhile, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino has a bash set as well, although none of the tribe's casinos have any form of parimutuel betting.

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Mark Duper can go long when it comes to poker, too.

Duper, the former Dolphins star wide receiver (top picture), was among the four players who split first prize in the Dan Le Batard Celebrity Poker Tournament at Dania Jai-Alai Wednesday night.

Ryan Fears, Rommel Brioso, Dustin Sher, and Duper agreed to “chop” the prize money, each taking home $1,485. Brioso, the chip leader, was declared the official winner and took home the tournament trophy.

"We love having this tournament at Dania Jai-Alai,” said Marc Hochman, of 790 The Ticket, who regularly reads this blog, so I throw his name in gratuitously.

Myself, it was a disastrous night (and I left long before I could get a quote from Duper). I got ace-queen about 30 minutes in in the small blind and called (mistake No. 1?). The big blind bet 300 and two or three of us called. Flop came K-10 and a low card. For some reason, I thought the big blind was on a middle pair, so I fired 300 out to knock him off. He called.

I bet another 300 after the turn (a blank) and got called, then 1,000 on the river (another blank) to knock him off. He came over the top of me, and I had to lay down that monstrous Ace-high hand I had. Let us count the ways that this is stupid poker.

Meanwhile, I still fail to learn the lesson that ace-queen is a great, great trouble hand, and, as I did, is just way too often over played. If ace-king is really a drawing hand, then so is ace-queen.

I also drew the seat next to Le Batard and enjoyed the visit, although we both got knocked out before the first break. He played the "good sport" role and had a $100 Brazilian steakhouse bounty on him (I forget the name of the restaurant), while my celebrity "bounty" status The Ticket awarded me in earlier tournament has disappeared (that's not a whine, just an observation). But the good news is my lousy play gave me something to write about, and design-wise I now have room for a picture taken by Dania's Marty Fleischman of Sabrina, who worked the beer tub at Dania. I'm still behind The Ticket in photos of this ilk, way behind.

Meanwhile, the fronton is wrapping up its "Play Your Way to Borgata" promotion. The cardroom, at 301 E. Dania Beach Blvd., is open Sundays through Thursdays from noon to midnight, Friday and Saturdays from noon to 2 am.

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The Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and Seminole Casino Hollywood "Classic" have big car giveaways in May.

Last year, Seminole Coconut Creek casino gave away a car a day for the month of May.

“So we have to one-up ourselves,” general manager Steve Bonner said.

This month, the casino is guaranteeing at least a car a day, and up to 40 Mini Coopers, and the Seminole Hollywood Classic casino is giving away at least 11 and up to 59.

Seminole Coconut Creek will have a drawing daily and offer others via special events.

The monthlong promotion kicks off with a performance at 7 p.m. Friday by MiniKiss, a group of vertically challenged musicians that bills itself as the “world’s smallest tribute band.”

Regular car drawings will be at 9 weeknights and 6 p.m. Sundays. Saturdays vary. Thursdays also offer Wheel and Deal, where patrons pick a key and can either see if it fits the car or instead take an envelope for cash and free play.

On May 9, the casino will award a car to the patron who best guesses how many model-sized Mini Coopers are stuffed into a car.

On May 11, casino visitors can swipe their Player’s Club cards from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for a chance to win a car. One card will have a predownloaded message notifying the winner.

A hot dog-eating contest is set for 7 p.m. May 16. The person who eats the most hot dogs will be among 10 names placed in a car drawing.

Seminole Hollywood Classic note that a unique facet of this promotion is that poker and bingo players also have cars to win.

Poker players who get four of a kind, a straight flush or a royal flush receive entry to a drawing at 9 p.m. May 26. Bingo players get entries each time they buy cards on Fridays or win a specific game. This drawing is 9:30 p.m. May 29.

The drawings with entries earned for slot play will be 10 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. A special giveaway is set for 5 to 9 p.m. May 31.

Meanwhile, each Monday and Saturday, notification of a Mini Cooper award will be downloaded onto a Player’s Club card. Guest can swipe their cards on those days from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

And Sundays, every 30 minutes from 3 to 7 p.m., guests whose names are drawn in the Cash or Cooper contest will pick a replica of a car. Each replica will be worth either $5,000 or a car.

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The Isle Casino and Racing in Pompano Beach has set the following promotions for May:

From now until May 30, you can guess how many baseballs are in the casino's front entrance display. The person with the closest guess, without going over, wins $5,000 cash. Former Yankee Stan Bahnsen will sign autographs after the grand prize is announced.

On Mondays, the casino continues its "Root for the Home Team" promotion (they can't use the word "Marlins"). Players get:

$5 free play if the temperature at game time is 85 degrees or higher;
$10 if the home team shuts out an opponent;
$50 if the home team hits for a cycle (single, double, triple, and home run for any one player);
$100 if the home team pitcher throws a no-hitter.

On Saturday, May 2, is the Kentucky Derby Sweepstakes from noon-
5 p.m. The casino gives you a randomly generated number corresponding to a racehorse. If your number is the winning Derby horse, you get $100 in free play.

On Saturday, May 16, is the $1,000,000 Preakness Sweepstakes from noon - 6 p.m. Three winners will compete every hour for up to $1 million in prizes.

On Saturday, May 23, is a Memorial Day big band party, starring the 18-piece Ben Grisafi Orchestra from 7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. and a fireworks show at 9 p.m. outside the casino’s Trackside bar.

On Sunday, May 24, win a Pontiac Solstice and a share of $10,000 in IslePlay. Drawings are at the top of every hour from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. with the Pontiac winner selected at 6 p.m.

On Monday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m., the Isle holds the $10,000 Jackpot Sweepstakes. Win a share of $10,000 cash. Earn entries in May when you win any hand-paid jackpot.

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The Florida Lottery announced today that two players matched all five winning numbers in the Sunday's Fantasy 5 drawing, and they're both South Floridians.

They'll share the $175,646.62 top prize ($87,823.31) each.

The winning numbers were: 08 - 23 - 24 - 32 - 33

They were sold at Publix, 5855 W. Oakland Park Blvd., in Lauderhill and at $ Saver, 2200 Lake Ida Road #E2 in Delray Beach.

So, check those tickets.

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The Isle is closer to I-95 and is non-smoking.

The Seminole Casino Coconut Creek pays better promos and brings in entertainment now and then.

Is that really it? Is it that simple?

I documented the competition between the two -- especially for Palm Beach gamblers -- in Saturday's Sun-Sentinel.

But I want to hear more reader comments about specifics. Is there a dealer you like at one place? Is there a buffet entry that attracts you? Let me know.

Thanks.

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I followed Fred Goldberg even before I got the gambling beat.

He finished 10th in the World Series of Poker main event a couple of years ago, and the next year won a bracelet in an earlier event.

Then he hit a slump. I'd bump into him at the Hard Rock and feel a little bad, like my story on him jinxed him.

OK, I'm feeling better. Goldberg won an event at the Isle's Battle at the Beach last month, and this month won the heavyweight event in the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Main Event.

Goldberg, of Hollywood, paid $1,100 to win $25,550. Cruiserweight division ($575 buy in) went to Ward Martin of Lantana, who earned $11,910. Middleweight division ($350 buy in) went to Steven Karp of North Miami Beach; he took home $8,770.

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Since early April, a truck with the date "April 30" has been suspended high above the Seminole Casino Hollywood, also known as "Seminole Classic." It's their Crash for Cash promotion.

Here's what's going on:

On Thursday, April 30, from 4:30 – 9 p.m., three people every 30 minutes will get $250 free play and one will earn a free spot in the Crash for Cash Final drawing. That day’s 10 finalists will each get a money bag of up to $2,500 plus at 10 p.m. one of them will move on to the Vault Grand Prize. There, they pick from 10 more bags, and can win up to $25,000. Plus, if the winner picks the correct briefcase they’ll "share the wealth" with 50 other people who’ll get $100 free play each.

The "truck" is really made out of styrofoam and has been hanging near the casino entrance along State Road 7.

Meanwhile, the $5 million Traveling Cash Display that has hit the Hard Rock and Seminole Coconut Creek, comes to Seminole Classic, with an opening event at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 23.

Seminole Player’s Club members also can win $1 million by swiping their Wild Card at a designated kiosk. The cash display ties in with the casino’s theme for April: “Seminole Stimulus”. Promotions include the $100,000 “Big Three Bailout” car giveaway each Sunday.

Players also can have their photo taken for free in front of the cash.

The quote from Seminole GM Adrian Fox: "April is our Seminole Stimulus month so we’re hoping the $5 million traveling display and $1 million jackpot stimulates the economy of one of our loyal players."

Other related promotions include:

Three winners every 30 minutes from 1-5:30 p.m. Sunday will receive $200 free play, plus one of them will be placed in the Big Three Bailout grand prize drawing at 6 p.m. for a chance to win a new car of their choosing from one of the Big Three automakers.

On Tuesday, guests can play in the Beat the Banker Quick Fire Slot Tournament. The person with the highest score will win $1,000 cash; others who beat the banker’s score can win $50, $150 or $250 in free play.

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There’s a new game at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino: Texas Hold ’em Bonus poker.

“It’s another version of playing poker, and it’s something different,” said Joe Giaimo, the Seminoles’ regional vice president of table games. The game started April 1.

Instead of players facing each other, they go against a house (dealer) hand.

They ante a minimum of $10 to a maximum of $500 and get two cards, face-down. So does the dealer.

To see the flop, players must bet twice their ante. They then have the option of betting their ante amount on the turn and the river — so players who anted the minimum $10 have anywhere from $30 to $50 up against the dealer.

The dealer reveals his cards, and the best hand wins.

Players who win with a flush or better get paid the amount of their ante and their bets. Players who win with less than a flush receive only their flop bet, plus any bets they made on the turn or the river.

Players also can make a bonus bet on just their first two cards. If they are dealt aces, their bet returns 30-to-1 (I originally wrote 50-1, but that's is incorrect. My apologies.). They also have six other bonus opportunities, all the way down to receiving 3-to-1 if they are dealt a pair of 2s through 10s.

The house makes its money by taking the ante on the dealer’s winning bets, while not paying off players’ antes if they have less than a flush. The house has about a 5 percent edge on the game, and about a 9 percent edge on the bonus bet, according to WizardOfOdds.com, a Web site devoted to gambling strategy. That’s worse than the 2 percent or lower generally in blackjack or baccarat but better than what you get in many slots games.

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OK, you've been reading good stuff here about poker, slots... even the lottery.

It's time we cemented this relationship.

So, c'mon, bookmark me. Read me during lunchtime when you're cruising around, even if it's just once a week.

Maybe something I write will help you make (or keep) money.

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If you happened to be driving through Naples in mid-November and bought a lottery ticket, do some double-checking.

The Florida Lottery announced today that a $24 million Lotto jackpot ticket remains unclaimed. The 180-day limit to claim the top prize expires at midnight May 11.

In case you don't remember, here were the numbers: 07 – 11 – 20 – 30 – 45 – 53. You know, if you had a 53-year-old son born on July 20 and a 45-year-old daughter born on Nov. 30, THESE ARE YOUR NUMBERS!

The winning ticket was sold at: Racetrac as a Quick Pick, at 3725 Pine Ridge Road, Naples.

Any Florida Lottery retailer can validate the winning ticket, but you have to still have it. Then you would go to Tallahassee to claim the money. I would be happy to drive you.

Questions? Call 850-487-7787 or go to flalottery.com.

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A 40-year-old Coral Springs man won the $500,000 Mega Money jackpot, the Florida Lottery announced today.

Vincent Ausanio, 40, of Coral Springs, claimed the April 17 jackpot today. He chose the one-time, lump-sum payment option of $365,133.50.

The winning Mega Money Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Publix, located at 411 S. Cypress Road in Pompano Beach. The retailer received a bonus incentive of $1,000 for selling the jackpot-winning ticket, the Lottery said.

The winning numbers were:

19 - 23 - 41 - 44 and the Megaball was 17

That's five numbers, with the lowest being 17... so, do you play low numbers next time, figuring they're due?

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Jason Mercier, who I wrote about after his hot run through Europe over the summer, has connected with PokerListings.com, which documents his next moves.

Mercier, who grew up in Hollywood and briefly attended Florida Atlantic University, also has started a blog through PokerListings.com.

Note: I just found out a link from my top link is down, so here is the original text of the first article.

By Nick Sortal

Parents, hide this article from your college-age children.

Students, here's the example you need to support a start-up career in poker.

Whatever your perspective, here's the fact: Jason Mercier, 21, of Hollywood, has won $2.6 million this year playing Texas Hold 'em.

He returned this month from Europe, where he won his second tournament of the year. It's his first year playing against the top pros.

"It's surreal going from playing online, where no one knows who you are, to playing live against people you see on TV," he said.

He took a path that didn't sit well with his family. In spring 2005, Mercier played so much online that he dropped out of Florida Atlantic University and moved back home - only to get kicked out of his parents' house for playing too much. He eventually moved back in after agreeing to play less and attend Broward Community College.

"We had to reach a compromise," he said. "And I didn't have what it took yet to play against the best."

That changed in 2007, when he played 2 million hands online - 5,500 a day - on PokerStars.net. He built a $90,000 bankroll and got into a European Poker Tour event in April in San Remo, Italy.

He won, taking home $1.3 million.

After a dismal World Series of Poker in Las Vegas in June - he finished out of the money in 19 of 22 events - he returned to Europe and reached the final table in three of six events he entered, including a $900,000 win in the London Showdown on Oct. 7.

His parents, middle-class, hardworking people, are understandably conflicted about the turn of events.

"It's not the career choice we would have picked for him," said Richard Mercier, who helps run a golf cart business. "I won't say I've changed my entire perspective, but, it's true we didn't understand how much experience he had playing online.

"The important thing is that he stays grounded."

Gambling addiction among college students has doubled in the past five years, partially because it's so easy for students to sit in their dorm and play online all day, said Pat Fowler of the Florida Council for Compulsive Gambling. She also notes that almost all college gamblers end up "broke, in debt and with no education." Jason said he's socking some of the money away.

Jason's mother, Dottie, had more basic concerns when her son, the youngest of four, made his first trip overseas.

"He told us he was going off to Europe by himself, and I was like, 'Oh, just shoot me now,' " she said. "He just hadn't traveled that much."

Looking back, Richard Mercier can point to traits that help his son in poker. Jason's competitive nature helped him letter in baseball, basketball and soccer all four years at Sheridan Hills High, a small Baptist school in Hollywood. And that aptitude for sports stats carried over: he scored a 35 out of 36 on his ACT.

Now his parents are "my biggest fans," Jason said. They watched the Europe tournaments streaming online; he bought them a car. They wouldn't take more.

"It's his money," his mother said. "He won it, not us."

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Calder President and General Manager Tom O'Donnell addressed horsemen Thursday night for the start of Calder's 2009 racing season, which begins April 24.

Included in his remarks:

The race course plans to open a card room in the existing grandstand building in November.

Groundbreaking for a new slots facility is expected in mid-May, with the idea of slots being available before the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl football fans come to Miami late in January.

Miami-Dade County voters on Jan. 29, 2008, approved a referendum to allow slot machines limited to the existing horse and dog tracks and jai-alai frontons in Miami-Dade County, including Calder. Since then, Calder has been working on a new 104,000-square foot facility.

It's expected to hold 1,200 slot machines, three restaurants, valet parking service, and self-service terminals for wagering on horse races as well as video monitors to show live and simulcast racing. (Mardi Gras has about 1,500 slots, Gulfstream about 900, for sake of comparison.)

With Calder only a few feet from the Broward County line, and easily accessible, it will be interesting to see if the casino draws business away from, say, Gulfstream or the Hard Rock. It will also be interesting to see if they plan anything different from what we see at the other parimutuels.

My question to you, dear readers: What would you want to see there (penny slots, video poker, etc.)? And is Calder in a location that would make going there an option over where you are going now?

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The snowbird season is coming to a close, and the Isle Casino and Racing in Pompano Park is offering deals to get people through the door one more time.

The themed buffet dinner, normally $16.99 or more, will be $4.99 from Monday (April 20) through Thursday. Monday is steak and shrimp; Tuesday is Tour of Italy; Wednesday is Good Home Cookin' and Thursday is Local Flavors with a Latin Flair.

The casino's breakfast buffet, normally $4.95 and offered on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, will be free from 8 to 11 a.m. April 24-26. It includes coffee and one glass of juice.

Gratuities not included, but here's my advice: Even though it's a buffet give 'em a good tip. You're in a casino, for crying out loud, and you do everything possible to get the gods of luck on your side.

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Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell points out some, er, inconsistencies among Florida legislators that are anti-gambling and their positions on other state games of chance, such as the lottery.

The line I like best is his comment that poker players have offered in recent months: that you can bet all you want on a slot (and horses and the lottery, for that matter) but when it comes to poker, their gambling impulses need to be controlled.

And I agree on his line about the suited Jack-10, too, even though it's what knocked me out of my most recent tournament, getting outplayed and fishing for the straight after a Q-9-6 flop.

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* -- officially.

With Tax Day upon us again, I want to dust off the main points made in an article I wrote last year, based on an interview with Russell Fox, an enrolled agent in California who specializes in taxes and gambling. And here's hoping you had a 2008 where you actually have something to claim; that means you won.

Action: What losses can you claim?

Fox: There are two basic points about the U.S. tax code as far as gambling: You can never have losses that exceed your winnings, and that includes professionals. But you can take as an itemized deduction your losses up to the amount of your winnings. The other major point, which creates audit situations, is insufficient records. You absolutely should keep a gambling log.

Action: How do you do that?

Fox: Buy a small notebook and write down the date, the casino name, the table number, the game you're playing, the start and end time and the results, and you have met the IRS requirement. If you play online, do the same thing, but keep a spreadsheet.

Action: At what minimum would you begin reporting gambling wins? $50? $10,000? Isn't $600 a magic figure?

Fox. All gambling income is taxable - even $1. Many people believe that $600 is a "magic figure" because most Form 1099s must be issued when someone is paid $600. However, just because you don't receive a tax form doesn't mean you can exclude income.

Action: What flags the IRS?

A. First, if you claim losses that exceed your winnings. That's prohibited under the Tax Code. Second, not claiming gambling winnings. Not claiming income you have is called tax evasion, and if it's significant enough you can be criminally prosecuted for it.

For the more dedicated gamblers, Fox has more at his web page.

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Trying his luck before heading to an Easter egg hunt provided profitable for Juan Alcocer, and I bet he hopped up and down like a bunny.

Alcocer, 36, of Pompano Beach, hit for $1 million Sunday in the Billion Dollar Blockbuster Scratch-Off game. He told Lottery officials on Monday that he stopped in to buy his ticket at Sample Road Operating, 250 E. Sample Road in Pompano Beach, before going to an Easter egg hunt.

The Billion Dollar Blockbuster Scratch-Off game has a top prize of $10 million. Tickets are $20 each. It's the seventh time the $1 million prize has hit, including last month for an 86-year-old Coconut Creek man.

The game launched on Feb. 24, but nobody has yet hit the $10 million prize. Odds of winning: 1-in 6,552,000. The odds of winning the $1 million are 1 in 546,000.

Alcocer (who declined further comment and the Lottery's photo op) chose the one-time, $650,000 lump-sum payment option. Lottery officials say Alcocer stated he worked in the construction industry.

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The Seminole Casino Coconut Creek gets the $5 million traveling cash display that made its debut at the Hard Rock last month.

Festivities are at 11 a.m. Tuesday. The display will be at the casino through April 19, and Players Club members can have their photo taken next to the loot. The exhibit consists of $100 bills encased in a 1,300-pound, custom-made $90,000 bullet-resistant Lexan showcase is expected to be announced soon as a Guinness world record.

During the six-day promotion, Seminole Player’s Club members will have a chance to win $1 million by swiping their Wild Card at a designated kiosk at the casino (the casino secretly dowloads the $1 million onto one of the tens of thousands of Players Club members each day).

Also, General Manager Steve Bonner will lead a money giveaway right after the $5 million display is unveiled and again at 1, 2, 3, and 4 p.m. A computer will randomly select slot players who’ll climb into a money blowing booth and walk away with as many $100 bills as they can catch.

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The third annual poker tournament to benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County will be at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Hollywood Beach Marriott in Hollywood, Florida (on A1A, south of Johnson Street).

The event is in memory of past board member and friend to youth, Dennis Sutton.

Cost is $200. Spectator tickets are $25.The grand prize is a seat at the World Series of Poker – a $10,000 value; award eligibility based on a 150 player minimum – or win a $5,000 Visa Card. Second place receives a diamond tennis bracelet.

For more information or to register, call 954-537-1010 or email Matt Organ, MOrgan@bgcbc.org or Megan Johansen, MJohansen@bgcbc.org.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County helps young people improve their lives by building self-esteem and developing values and skills during their critical period of growth, according to a press release. It serves more than 13,000 at-risk youth, ages 7-18 each year from its 13 Broward County-area clubs. The website is www.bgcbc.org.

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The TV journey of Wellington High 2001 valedictorian Vanessa Rousso begins at noon on NBC Sunday with the first National Heads Up Poker Championship.

The poker tournament, with head-to-head matches, is like the NCAA basketball tournament; lose and go home. The finals are best of three.

Celebrity Apprentice star Annie Duke, comedian Brad Garrett, actor Don Cheadle and the world’s best poker pros are the featured participants in this year’s event.

GoDaddy.com is the presenting sponsor of the broadcast.

Rousso faces poker legend Doyle Brunson in the first round. The matches were taped March 6-8.

More information is available at NBC's web site.

To cheat and see already how she did, go to an earlier post I did.

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The Seminole Coconut Creek casino gets the $5 million cash display this month, and revisits the Coocoo for Coconuts promotion.
The list:

Mondays: 55+ SILVER STAR SLOT TOURNAMENT: Noon. Free. Free play to top 50 finishers; Earn 500 points, get $50 free play for today plus $50 free play for for Wednesday.

Tuesdays: Coco Hi-Lo: 6 p.m.- 9 p.m. Five winners every hour have a chance
to win up to $2,500.

Wednesdays: $1 million slot tournament qualifiers: 3 p.m.- 9 p.m. free. Top five score accumulators for the month qualify for the $100 buy-in semifinal May 2. More than $5,000 in free play prizes.

April 14-19: $5 million display and swipe and win for a chance at $1 million; noon-10 p.m. on April 14, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. April 15-19.

April 16-19 and 23-26: Coocoo for Coconuts: 7-10 p.m. Three players every hour pick a lucky coconut, similar to Deal or No Deal.

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So, a person enduring financial hardship hits the lottery, but... gets only $600.

That's the suggestion by the Tennessee legislature, according to one news report. The idea is for those who have less money to burn to not spend it on the lottery.

Rep. Stacey Campfield (R-Knoxville) introduced the bill and according to one TV station, says: “If you can't afford the bare necessities and if you rely on the government for the bare necessities of life, you shouldn't be taking what money you do have and blowing it on the lottery."

Boy, I'm mixed on this one. What do you think? Too much government? Or a necessary way to help people from themselves?

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No, it's not a SunSentinel newsroom field trip ( Rod Hagwood, Tom Jicha, Ira Winderman and Omar Kelly?).

The Thunder from Down Under Las Vegas Male Revue hits Seminole Casino Coconut Creek at 8 p.m. April 15.

The 90-minute Las Vegas bachelorette show featuring Australian hunks. Tickets are $20 per person, available at the casino’s cashier’s cage. It'll be held at the casino's 500-seat pavilion.

Coconut Creek says Thunder From Down Under was voted “Best Dancers On The Las Vegas Strip” by the Las Vegas Review Journal.

But, hey, if it did come down to a SunSentinel field trip, which of the four would you take?

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Our Josh Hafenbrack blogs about the latest at the House, and it's good news for the parimutuels: The poker wage limit is increased tenfold, from $5 to $50 on 'limit' games and $100 to $1,000 maximum buy-in on no-limit games.

And our Michael Mayo weighs in with criticism of the House for, essentially, not taking the Seminoles into account more.

The Senate, which is more pro-gambling, still would have to approve the plan, and there's a lot of negotiating still to go. But still...

I'm a little buried on work today, so just click on his link for the details. I can't rip off Juice in a pathetic attempt to steal hits. Today.

But it can't stop me from asking... if this would go through, just this part (no compact) could you live with it? I need to hear from the poker folks, please.

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Mardi Gras Gaming Casino and Racetrack is unveiling a new set of poker tournaments, and if you’re an early bird or a night owl, you’ll be especially happy.

There are five tournaments, including $35 buy-ins – among the lowest in South Florida -- at 11:30 a.m. and 2 a.m. The new schedule begins Monday.April 13.

“They have small buy-ins because the main goal is to get people who haven’t been coming to our poker room to try it out,” poker room manager Wil Herrera said. “We want to get people in the door.”

Mardi Gras went to a 24-hour poker room last summer after the state determined that both of Mardi Gras’ two 12-hour racing permits were valid, so the Hallandale casino was eligible to stack them up and hold poker around the clock. Nearby competitor Gulfstream can operate for only 12 hours, often from noon to midnight.

Herrera said the 11:30 a.m. tournament will draw retirees, who frequent the casino anyway early; the 2 a.m. tournament will attract bartenders and perhaps dealers from other casinos. All are titled along the Mardi Gras theme.

Also on Monday, the casino will replace its $100 high hand promotion with a $1,000 “rack attack.” When a player gets the best hand of the hour, they will receive an entry into a contest. Every six hours, the recent high hand winners will be blindfolded for 30 seconds and will grab as many chips as they can from a rack, up to $1,000 in value. The player who gets the most chips gets everyone’s; others get a consolation prize.

The tournaments:

Canal Street Carnival: 11:30 a.m. Monday through Saturday, $35.

Bourbon Street Bounty: 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, $45.

Voodoo on the Bayout: 2 a.m. daily, $35.

Hurricane Sundays: 11:30 a.m. Sundays, $145.

Crescent City Challenge: 11:30 a.m. the second Sunday of each month, $490.

More information: www.playmardigras.com or 954-924-3200.

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Itzhack Feldman admits his passion is an odd one.

"I live for the bad beat," says Feldman, of Hollywood.

And he has the web site to prove it: www.BadBeatNow.com.

A bad beat jackpot is when one player with a great hand loses to someone with an even better hand. In many cases, the loser has to have at least a full house of aces over jacks. Commonly, it's one player's four of a kind beats another's.

Casinos offer "bad beat jackpots" to draw people to the tables, and they often go over $100,000.

That's what catches Feldman's eye. He plays $1-$2 limit poker (the lowest-limit game, where you often win or lose only $20 a night) in hopes of hitting the bad beat.

His site, accessible via YouTube, contains the current bad beat jackpots of South Florida casinos. Feldman (pictured winning a Royal Flush, not a bad beat at Seminole Hollywood) calls the poker rooms daily, asking what the bad beat is.

Hey, I've heard of worse ways to make the world better.

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The Seminole Casino Hollywood is playing heavily on bailouts, banking and tax day in this month's promotions.

According to the casino:

$100,000 Bank or Bust: From 5 - 11 p.m. on April 9 and 16, three winners will receive $250 free play and one winner will play the Bank or Bust Game with a chance at up to $20,000.

$100,000 Big Three Bailout: Three winners every 30 minutes will receive $200 free play plus one of the three winners will advance to Big Three Bailout grand prize drawing. Every 30 min. from 1 p.m.-5:30 p.m. April 5, 12, 19 and 26. Grand prize drawing will be held at 6 p.m. where one player will drive away with a new car from one of the Big 3 automakers.

Stimulus Spin & Win: At 7, 8, 9 and 10 p.m. April 15, 16, 17 and 18. Five winners will get a chance to spin the Stimulus Wheel. Prizes include $150 to $250 in free play. If a winner lands on the Bonus Check spot they will get a chance to win cash up to $2,500 and an additional 50 winners will be picked to receive $50 in free play.

Beat the Banker Quick Fire Slot Tournament: April, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Players get to play in one-minute sessions and if their score is higher than the banker’s score they win. Depending on which predetermined score they beat they can win $50 free play, $150 cash or $250 cash. The person with the highest score of the day will also win $1,000 cash.

Crash For Cash $40,000 Giveaway: Every 30 min from 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m. April 30. Three winners will get $250 free play and one will earn a spot in the Truck Crash Final drawing. At 10 p.m., 10 money bags will be revealed. That day’s 10 Truck Crash Final drawing winners will each get a money bag with cash up to $2,500 plus one of the winners will get to move onto the Vault Grand Prize where they can win cash up to $25,000. Plus, if the winner picks the right briefcase they will share the wealth and give 50 additional winners $100 free play.

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Registration for the 2009 World Series of Poker is now open.

Players can pre-register online at www.worldseriesofpoker.com.

The 40th edition of the WSOP will run from May 26 through July 15, 2009, and will include 57 bracelet tournaments, the WSOP said in a news release.

Buy-ins for open events will range from $1,000 to $50,000. The buy-in for the Main Event – the No-Limit Hold’em World Championship – remains at $10,000. The November Nine, the final nine participants of the Main Event, return Nov. 7-10 to declare a champion.

If you sign up, send me an email, so I can track you down when you get a bracelet.

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A 19-year-old Florida Atlantic University freshman was the big winner during The Isle Casino and Racing's Battle at the Beach over the weekend. Most people are thrilled to win one tournament; Hayden Fortini won two.

First Fortini, originally of Vero Beach, won a $900 tournament that had 258 players. He took home $59,044.

Next in line were: Brett Borgersen, West Palm Beach ($34,612), Tim Seidensticker, Miami ($22,396) and Dennis Grant, Miramar, ($14,252). Chad Brown, the fiance of Vanessa Rousso, was fifth ($10,180). Rousso made it through Day One but didn't finish in the top 27 (cashes).

Fortini said a key hand came when he and Brown both went all-in on a five-way pot: Fortini turned over ace-king; Brown flipped over jacks. Fortini hit an ace to take the pot.

"My strategy was to stay out of his way," Fortini said.

Also cashing: Kevin Deng, Barrington White, Kevin Collins, Mikko Koskinen, Scott Williams
Steven Senter, Maurice Hawkins, Phillip Girian, Marcus E Gurley, Dustin Pisani, Keith Ingham
William Swiciciki, Tomas Cuce, Pat Madden, Vincent Spadavecchia, Larry Jean,
Brian Lindsey, Jeff Gross, Ory Hen, Avi Indik, Don Todd and James Deleo.

"With a big smile on my face," Fortini also won the Heads-Up Championship, which drew 111 players. He took home $50,000, defeating Jose Torres of Cooper City ($23,000) in the final. Stuart Newman of Weston ($7,300) was third, and James Reilly of Boca Raton ($5,000) was fourth. By my records, it's the only heads-up tournament we've had here in South Florida.

His toughest heads-up match, he said, was against Stu Patterson of Boca Raton.

Fortini says he has been playing since he was 16 and playing for money since age 18. He's had some success online but also plays a lot at the Isle, Seminole Coconut Creek and the Hard Rock.

He's studying psychology, but says it's difficult to balance poker with school.

"It gets you in a mindset where school becomes very boring. But I’m very interested in psychology," he said.

"I want to get an education; I think that’s important, then figure it out from there, in case the whole thing doesn’t work out for me."

The reason for his success?

"I just put a lot of time and I’ve played a lot of poker. If you play a lot, you’re going to learn a lot from your mistakes, and I’ve made a million mistakes, so I’ve learned a lot.

"You just learn the game and learn how to play against different people."

Fred Goldberg of Hollywood won the $550 tournament, which drew 184 players. He received $20,000. Next were: Antuan Bunckly, Samuel Mayer-Backer, Irving Rice, Sean Irvin
Daniel Genachte, Gilbert George, Adam Berman, Daren Stabinski, Logan Richetti, Clark Brzozowski, Sonia Sanchez, Marcus Gurley, Dolphy Garricks, Timothy Morgan, David Sultan
Robert Cheney, Richard Gollin and Jason McCarty.

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Vanessa Rousso explains more of her boot camp and The Art of War in a quick interview that ran in our Showtime newspaper section on Friday.

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