Action: South Florida gambling | Sun-Sentinel Blogstag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog/1972008-09-05T22:26:32ZGambling in Miami, Broward, Palm Beach CountiesMovable Type 3.36The Isle promotions for Septembertag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1229472008-09-05T22:19:51Z2008-09-05T22:26:32ZI wrote in Showtime Friday about the Isle's football promotion. Also at the casino this month: New members receive $20 in IslePlay and a free buffet. Sept. 14: The $25,000 Cash and IslePlay Giveaway, be one of five winners of...Nick Sortal
I wrote in Showtime Friday about the Isle's football promotion.
Also at the casino this month:
New members receive $20 in IslePlay and a free buffet.
Sept. 14: The $25,000 Cash and IslePlay Giveaway, be one of five winners of $500 in IslePlay or, even better, the winner of $15,000 cash.
Every Wednesday, play in a free slot tournament and win a share of $5,000 in IslePlay. Wacky Wednesday tournaments are from noon-3 p.m. and 4 p.m.–7 p.m. There are 25 total winners each week.
Sept. 26: A Volvo XC 90 or $10,000 in IslePlay. Drawings are 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. for 10 winners of $250 in IslePlay. The grand prize car will be awarded at 9 p.m.
September jackpot winners are invited back for a special $10,000 Jackpot Celebration drawing on Oct. 2. One winner will receive $5,000 and five additional winners receive $1,000 each.
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Dania Jai-Alai expands poker to 3 a.m. on weekendstag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1257462008-09-05T20:45:27Z2008-09-06T17:38:27ZFollowing the lead of Mardi Gras Gaming, Dania Jai-Alai has expanded its poker room hours beyond the original state mandate of 12 hours per day. Dania will be open from noon to 3 a.m. -- or later -- on Friday...Nick Sortal
(See earlier post.)
The fronton also now gives free alcoholic drinks, soft drinks and coffee to those playing in cash games, he said.
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Hard Rock promotions for Septembertag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1246702008-09-05T15:17:32Z2008-09-05T15:21:41Z$50,000 The King of the Rock Slot Tournament: Free slot tournaments for Player’s Club Wild Card members held on Mondays in September (8, 15, 22 and 29), October (6, 13, 20, 27) and November (3 and 10). The 10-week tournament...Nick Sortal
$50,000 The King of the Rock Slot Tournament: Free slot tournaments for Player’s Club Wild Card members held on Mondays in September (8, 15, 22 and 29), October (6, 13, 20, 27) and November (3 and 10). The 10-week tournament consists of 13, five-minute sessions. Registration begins at 3 p.m. with tournament play at 4 p.m. and every 20 minutes thereafter with the last session concluding at 8 p.m. It's $1,000 for first, $500 for second, $200 for third. Top 25 players’ scores for the 10-week period get grand prizes, from $200 to $10,000.
2008 Maserati Quattroporte Giveaway: Drawings at 9 p.m. Sept. 9, 16, 23 and 30. Additional cash prize drawings from 5-8 p.m.
$95,000 Cash & Sports Memorabilia Giveaway: On Wednesdays in September (3, 10, and 17) at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. with $18,750 in cash and sports memorabilia giveaways every day guaranteed. Grand prize is an authentic Babe Ruth baseball with the drawing after 8 p.m. Grand prize finale for $38,750 on Sept. 24.
Pontiac Solstice Convertible Giveaway: Drawing at 4 p.m. Sept. 6 and 27. Grand prize drawing at 4 p.m. Additional cash drawings noon – 3 p.m.
Cruise the Caribbean: Carnival Cruise Lines on Sundays (7 and 21) and Fridays (5, 12 and 19) in September from noon – 8 p.m. Twelve cruise giveaways each day guaranteed. Grand prize drawing at 10 p.m. Grand prize finale on Sunday, Sept. 28. To enter, drop your ballot in the drum at the Center Bar.
Points for Free Slot Play: Tuesdays (2, 9, 16, 23 and 30) and Wednesdays (3, 10, 17 and 24) from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Visit the Player’s Club booth for details.
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Mardi Gras promotions for Septembertag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1246462008-09-04T12:45:23Z2008-09-04T12:59:33ZThis from Mardi Gras gaming: Tuesday, Sept. 9, 16 and 23: Fat Tuesday Cash Bash (Giving away $25,000 cash) -$2,500 @ 7pm -$2,500 @ 7:30pm -$2,500 @ 8:00pm -$2,500 @ 8:30pm -$5,000 @ 9:00pm -$10,000 @ 10:00pm Tuesday, Sept. 30:...Nick Sortal
This from Mardi Gras gaming:
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 16 and 23: Fat Tuesday Cash Bash (Giving away $25,000 cash)
-$2,500 @ 7pm
-$2,500 @ 7:30pm
-$2,500 @ 8:00pm
-$2,500 @ 8:30pm
-$5,000 @ 9:00pm
-$10,000 @ 10:00pm
Tuesday, Sept. 30: Car Giveaway (TBA)
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 17 and 24: Score Big (Virtual Game) 1pm-8pm
-Win between $1,000 cash, $500 bonus play, or $250 bonus play every hour
Sunday, Sept. 7, 14, 21 and 28: Game Day Jamboree - $500 bonus play every hour noon-8 p.m.
Also Mardi Gras is showing football games on weekends on the veranda, for those who might have some action going on the gridiron.
Seminole Casino Hollywood promotions for Septembertag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1232692008-09-02T17:23:08Z2008-09-02T17:34:22ZThis from the Seminole Casino Hollywood, 4150 SR 7 (across Stirling Road from the Hard Rock) *Pick a Pinup: Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, every 30 minutes from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Prizes range from $100-$1,000 cash. *$88,000 Cash Giveaway- Every...Nick Sortal
This from the Seminole Casino Hollywood, 4150 SR 7 (across Stirling Road from the Hard Rock)
*Pick a Pinup: Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, every 30 minutes from
5 p.m.-10 p.m. Prizes range from $100-$1,000 cash.
*$88,000 Cash Giveaway- Every Thursday, every 30 minutes from 6 p.m.-11 p.m. Prizes
range from $400-$2,000 cash.
*Classic Car Giveaway- Every Friday and Saturday. Every hour from 1p.m. - 9 p.m.. Winners get $350 cash and a chance to win a Classic Car at 10 p.m. Saturday.
*Play, Earn & Redeem- Sept 8th & 22nd. Guests that earn 400 points will receive $80 in free play.
*5x Entries- Guests playing on Tuesday will receive 5 times the normal entries into the Classic Car giveaway. Guests playing on Wednesday will receive 5 times the normal entries into the $88,000 Cash Giveaway.
Hard Rock poker room carries on with boxing themetag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1247522008-09-02T14:12:48Z2008-09-02T19:17:06ZKeeping a boxing theme, the Hard Rock poker room is holding tournaments from Friday through Sept. 14 called "the Main Event." There are three levels: middleweight, cruiserweight and heavyweight. It starts Friday with a $120 super satellite for the Heavyweight...Nick Sortal
Keeping a boxing theme, the Hard Rock poker room is holding tournaments from Friday through Sept. 14 called "the Main Event."
There are three levels: middleweight, cruiserweight and heavyweight.
It starts Friday with a $120 super satellite for the Heavyweight tournament. Players start with 4,000 in chips and one of every 10 win seats. Super satellites are also Sept. 10, twice on Sept. 11 and once on Sept. 12.
Two satellites for the middleweight event are Sunday. Each is $40, with 3,000 in chips. One in nine win seats. The middleweight event on Monday is $300 with 8,000 in chips. Top five finishers also win an entry into the cruiserweight event.
Three satellites for the cruiserweight event are planned: one on Sept. 8 and twice on Sept. 9. Each is $60, with 3,000 in chips and 15-minute levels. One in 10 win seats.
The cruiserweight tournament is Sept. 10. Buy-in is $500, with 10,000 in chips. The top five also make the heavyweight event.
The heavyweight tournament is a $1,000 buy-in event with 20,000 in chips. Players can play on one of two days, Sept. 12 or 13. Players eliminated on Sept. 12 can re-enter on Sept. 13.
The final day is Sept. 14.
Space Flight contest winner takes the moneytag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1245302008-09-02T13:31:51Z2008-09-02T15:53:34ZJohn Delacosta of Pompano Beach won the Seminole Coconut Creek Space Flight promotion, documented in a Showtime story I did, on Monday night. The flight was listed as worth $200,000, but he chose to take the $110,000 cash option. But...Nick Sortal
documented in a Showtime story I did, on Monday night.
The flight was listed as worth $200,000, but he chose to take the $110,000 cash option. But don't hit him up for the money: Delacosta, 68, a former electrical engineer from Trinidad, has a son and four grandsons, and says he'll probably slip them a little somethin'.
Well-wishers at the casino all slapped him on the back; he's a regular.
"He's here eight days a week," one friend said. He plays slots and video roulette.
Delacosta immediately took the cash.
"I have a bad heart and have no interest in the trip," he said.
Space flight isn't happening for a couple of years, so the casino was merely buying a ticket. My opinion is the casino had to be a little nervous, and relieved he took the cash: these private-business flight companies can refuse to take your business, and they weren't on-board with the whole promotion. You never saw their name anywhere in the ads.
The casino drew a name each hour from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and players had to pick the two DVDs, out of 20, that played footage of a space flight. Do the math: that means the odds were one in 380; 1 in 20, and times 1 in 19 had you happened to draw the first one correctly. Still better than the lottery.
So, not surprisingly, none of the five names chosen on Monday, or on four previous promotions days during the summer made the match.
The casino at 6 p.m. then added four 'wild cards,' -- think of the Deal or No Deal episodes when they keep adding extra $1 million suitcases to induce a winner -- and when the next person didn't hit, they added 2 more.
So that put the odds at 8 in 20 times 7 in 19 (or 56 in 380, which is about 15 percent, or one in seven). The math worked: Six more players tried and failed (with only one getting even half of a match) before Della Costa hit.
Trivia: he chose DVDs Nos. 2 and 13.
The casino also had a jet pack demonstration, laser light show and threw out T-shirts at the 6 p.m. drawing.
Which always amuses me. Two men simultaneously grabbed one shirt -- I say settle it with rock, paper scissors -- and one relented. The victor gave the shirt to his date. Then another man, off to the side apparently made a comment.
So the woman, in too-tight pink checked shorts -- she had lumps, not curves -- and a sleeveless shirt that revealed a healthy shoulder tattoo stuck up her middle finger at him -- while not managing to spill her drink. Classy.
All over a shirt.
Wish she'd had put it on.
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High Heels poker tour event at the Isle Sept. 6tag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1241392008-08-31T17:53:14Z2008-08-31T17:53:47ZThe High Heels Poker Tour will have another women's tournament, at 1 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Isle. Buy-in is $250. Starting chip stack is 8,000. Lauren Failla of Hollywood launched the tour last October with a tournament at the...Nick Sortal
www.highheelspokertour.com.
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Labor Day promotions at Gulfstream, Mardi Gras, Coconut Creek ...tag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1240702008-08-29T14:45:31Z2008-08-29T14:54:47ZThis weekend has some ground-breaking giveaways, and one that's even out of this world: Gulfstream Park will award Player’s Club members the chance to win up to $250,000 from Friday through Monday as part of its “Labor Day Moneybag Grab”...Nick Sortal
I documented in today's Showtime story.
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A losing ticket still can be a good thing...tag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1240792008-08-29T13:20:59Z2008-08-29T15:25:42ZIf you bet on a loser at Pompano Harness track, don't throw away your ticket: In September, Dunkin’ Donuts, 1405 S. Powerline Road in Pompano Beach, will honor losing pari-mutuel tickets with your choice of a free medium hot or...Nick Sortal
If you bet on a loser at Pompano Harness track, don't throw away your ticket: In September, Dunkin’ Donuts, 1405 S. Powerline Road in Pompano Beach, will honor losing pari-mutuel tickets with your choice of a free medium hot or iced coffee or one free baked good (donut, bagel, muffin).
In return, Dunkin’ Donuts customers who bring a receipt from the 1405 S. Powerline Road store to the track get a free Pompano Park Race program.
The partnership is highlighted on Sept. 27 with a Dunkin' Donuts grand opening event featuring harness drivers Wally Hennessey, Bruce Ranger and Dan Clements signing autographs and posing with fans from 10 a.m. to noon.
Slot tournaments come to Seminole Hard Rocktag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1229512008-08-26T17:21:11Z2008-08-26T17:28:37ZSlot tournaments begin Sept. 2 for gamblers 55 and older at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Everyone else can start playing on Sept. 8. Earlier this month, the casino started its "Classic Rockers" club, which is heavy on...Nick Sortal
Earlier this month, the casino started its "Classic Rockers" club, which is heavy on Tuesday day promotions (when its young, beautiful clientele is either sleeping or at work). They'll be held in the non-smoking portion of the casino.
The tournaments will have 10 5-minute spin sessions and can hold up to 25 players each, making for 250 players. The top five players each week win prizes. The tournament begins at 9, but signup at 8:30. They'll run until about 2 p.m.
Prizes: $250 cash for first, free play for the rest ($100, $75, $50 and $25).
There's also the $50,000 "King of the Rock" tournament.
They're Sept. 8, 15, 22 and 29, Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 and Nov. 3 and 10.
The 10-week tournament consists of 13, five-minute sessions.
Registration begins at 3 p.m. with tournament play commencing at 4 p.m. and every 20 minutes thereafter. The last session is at 8 p.m.
It's $1,000 for first, $500 for second, $200 for third.
After the conclusion of the 10-week tournament, the top 25 players’ scores pay:
$10,000 for first, $5,000 for second, $3,000 for third, $2,000 for fourth, $1,000 for fifth. Sixth through 10th is $500, 11-15th $300, and 16-25th $200.
The move comes after The Isle in Pompano and Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach began slot tournaments earlier this summer. Both venues report strong participation.
In all cases, casino visitors must join the Players Club to get into the tournament.
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Gulfstream promotions for Septembertag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1230682008-08-25T22:40:35Z2008-09-02T22:16:46ZGulfstream promotions for September: Every Friday from noon to 4 p.m. throughout the month of September, Gulfstream Park will hold a free slot tournament in the first-floor Finish Line Casino. Total prizes are $5,000 in cash and free play. There...Nick Sortal
Every Friday from noon to 4 p.m. throughout the month of September, Gulfstream Park will hold a free slot tournament in the first-floor Finish Line Casino. Total prizes are $5,000 in cash and free play. There will be 40 prizes awarded each week, with a weekly grand prize of $1,000.
In addition to its Friday Free-For-All slot tournaments, Gulfstream on Sunday, Sept. 28 will hold a $50,000 Cash is King slot tournament. Buy-in is $100 with a $25,000 grand prize.
On Sept. 14, 21 and 27, Gulfstream Park will award up to $25,000 as part of its Case or Cash 3 casino promotion. Five finalists will be chosen at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. each day and given the opportunity to select a case containing up to $25,000 in cash. Each finalist may either sell the case back to “the house” or take their chances and open their case.
On Saturday, Sept. 6, and again at Friday, Sept. 26, Good Luck Player’s Club members will be randomly selected for a chance to win a Louis Vuitton handbag. On Sept. 9 and again on the 20th, designer Coach handbags will be the coveted prize.
Good Luck Player’s Club Daily Casino Specials
Monday Lucky 7 Cash Cart: One player will be randomly selected every 20 minutes between 4 p.m. -10 p.m. for a chance to win up to $1,000 in cash.
Seniors Tuesdays: Player’s Club members over 55 can receive $10 when they reach a certain level of play. In addition, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., members have a chance to win $55 in free casino play every 20 minutes.
Scratch & Win Gulfstream Gold on Wednesday: Cash in Gulfstream Gold tickets for cash or free play.
$500 winners every Thursday: Gulfstream Park will award $500 in cash every 20 minutes from 2 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Gulfstream is also promoting its horse racing simulcasts. Breeders Cup “Win and You’re In” Qualifying Races slated for September:
Sept. 6 – Turfway Fall Championships
Sept. 7 – Woodbine Mile
Sept. 14 – Natalma Stakes
Sept. 20 – Massachusetts Handicap
Sept. 27 – Jockey Club Gold Cup
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Gulfstream gets new assistant GMtag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1209962008-08-23T19:46:42Z2008-08-25T16:14:19Z Mike Chapple has been named assistant general manager at Gulfstream Park. He has been vice president of security and surveillance. He came to Gulfstream Park in 2006 after serving at Remington for 17 years. He was on hand when...Nick Sortal
Mike Chapple has been named assistant general manager at Gulfstream Park. He has been vice president of security and surveillance.
He came to Gulfstream Park in 2006 after serving at Remington for 17 years. He was on hand when Remington opened its slot business in 2005 and was a consultant when Gulfstream opened its slots the next year, according to a news release from Gulfstream.
In making the announcement, Gulfstream Park President and General Manager Bill Murphy said: “Mike has been a tremendous asset to MEC from the start and his impact at Gulfstream Park was both positive and immediate. This promotion serves as recognition to his contributions to MEC and Gulfstream Park as well as to the degree of respect I have for him personally. Mike built positive relationships with local law enforcement and horsemen’s groups, both here and in Oklahoma. He’s the consummate professional.”
Chapple completed the Groom Elite Certification Course, which teaches students the intricacies of horsemanship, particularly as it affects racehorses.
His quote, from the release: “My career with MEC has afforded me the opportunity to work with some true professionals, most recently Bill Murphy, whom I’ve known and worked with since the early ‘90s. On a personal level, Bill is one of the finest people I’ve known. The faith he places on people as individuals and the accent he places on teamwork is of tremendous value to all of us here.”
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Coconut Creek packs 'em in for 'Crazy 8s'tag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1209642008-08-22T18:25:11Z2008-08-25T16:09:15Z It started last year: Seminole Casino Coconut Creek’s Marketing Director Michael Michaud had the idea: Give away $777 every 7 minutes from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on 7/7/07. “My staff unanimously rejected it,” he recalled in a Seminole...Nick Sortal
It started last year: Seminole Casino Coconut Creek’s Marketing Director Michael Michaud had the idea: Give away $777 every 7 minutes from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on 7/7/07.
“My staff unanimously rejected it,” he recalled in a Seminole Coconut Creek news release. “They didn’t think it would be possible for us to manage a drawing every seven minutes for 12 hours straight.”
This year, they repeated it, on 8/8/08; “Crazy 8’s,” with $888 given away every eight minutes from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
At 9 p.m., Yolanda Gihha (center, with casino master of ceremonies Steve Lewis at left, and casino promotions manager, Gary Friedman at right) won the $28,416 pot of unclaimed, accumulated cash. That feature is important to the overall success of the promotion, Michaud noted, because “it keeps people here playing all day and into the night.”
This year 90 players took home a total of $79,920. “We ran out of parking in our 3,000-space lot both years,” he said.
The casino estimates it drew 10,000 people on Aug. 8 to the approximately 45,000-square-foot facility.
They plan to do it next year, on 9/9/09.
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Blackjack tournament helps Huizenga schooltag:blogs.trb.com,2008:/entertainment/news/gambling/blog//197.1202022008-08-21T10:26:23Z2008-08-21T10:35:06ZThe Nova Southeastern University H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business will have a $150 blackjack tournament Sept. 12 as part of its Entrepreneurship Rock ‘n’ Roll Night. Grand prize is two round-trip tickets on AmericanAirlines. Proceeds for the night go...Nick Sortal
The Nova Southeastern University H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business will have a $150 blackjack tournament Sept. 12 as part of its Entrepreneurship Rock ‘n’ Roll Night.
Grand prize is two round-trip tickets on AmericanAirlines. Proceeds for the night go toward undergraduate scholarships at the Huizenga School. The $150 entry fee also covers entertainment and dinner for the night.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Night will be held at the Signature Grand in Davie, 6900 S.R. 84. The party begins at 6 p.m. Reservations, sponsorships and other information are available at http://www.huizenga.nova.edu/rnr/rnr08.cfm or by calling 954-262-5008.
Performers at the Huizenga School’s Rock ‘n’ Roll night will include: Nokie Edwards, lead guitarist for The Ventures and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; singer and songwriter Richie Supa, who has toured with Aerosmith; and seven-year-old Ethan Bortnick, a pianist, musician, composer, songwriter, actor, and artist.
Guests are encouraged to dress in rock ‘n’ roll attire. The evening will also include a silent auction, buffet and cocktails. TV's Tony Segreto will serve as emcee.
The three previous Rock ‘n’ Roll Nights have combined to raise more than $300,000 for undergraduate scholarships, according to the school.
Mike Chapple has been named assistant general manager at Gulfstream Park. He has been vice president of security and surveillance.
He came to Gulfstream Park in 2006 after serving at Remington for 17 years. He was on hand when Remington opened its slot business in 2005 and was a consultant when Gulfstream opened its slots the next year, according to a news release from Gulfstream.
In making the announcement, Gulfstream Park President and General Manager Bill Murphy said: “Mike has been a tremendous asset to MEC from the start and his impact at Gulfstream Park was both positive and immediate. This promotion serves as recognition to his contributions to MEC and Gulfstream Park as well as to the degree of respect I have for him personally. Mike built positive relationships with local law enforcement and horsemen’s groups, both here and in Oklahoma. He’s the consummate professional.”
Chapple completed the Groom Elite Certification Course, which teaches students the intricacies of horsemanship, particularly as it affects racehorses.
His quote, from the release: “My career with MEC has afforded me the opportunity to work with some true professionals, most recently Bill Murphy, whom I’ve known and worked with since the early ‘90s. On a personal level, Bill is one of the finest people I’ve known. The faith he places on people as individuals and the accent he places on teamwork is of tremendous value to all of us here.”
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It started last year: Seminole Casino Coconut Creek’s Marketing Director Michael Michaud had the idea: Give away $777 every 7 minutes from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on 7/7/07.
“My staff unanimously rejected it,” he recalled in a Seminole Coconut Creek news release. “They didn’t think it would be possible for us to manage a drawing every seven minutes for 12 hours straight.”
This year, they repeated it, on 8/8/08; “Crazy 8’s,” with $888 given away every eight minutes from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
At 9 p.m., Yolanda Gihha (center, with casino master of ceremonies Steve Lewis at left, and casino promotions manager, Gary Friedman at right) won the $28,416 pot of unclaimed, accumulated cash. That feature is important to the overall success of the promotion, Michaud noted, because “it keeps people here playing all day and into the night.”
This year 90 players took home a total of $79,920. “We ran out of parking in our 3,000-space lot both years,” he said.
The casino estimates it drew 10,000 people on Aug. 8 to the approximately 45,000-square-foot facility.
They plan to do it next year, on 9/9/09.
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