August 2008 Archives

Wednesday, August 27th 2008, Harrah's Atlantic City is offering the 3 Card Buy-In Tournament.

This is a poker tournament that is run at Harrah's Resort Atlantic City on the last Wednesday of every month.

$100 buy-in plus a $20 entry fee.

We started covering Harrahs Resort Atlantic City when we launched Comptropolis several months ago.


For more information on Atlantic City casino deals and promotions, click here.

For more information on the 3 Card Buy-In Tournament, visit Harrah's Resort Atlantic City's website.

Among his many duties at the Democratic National Convention, 36 year old Oscar winner Ben Affleck will be playing poker to benefit veterans.

He's not the only celebrity participating in this week's events. Also on the roster are Oprah Winfrey, Jessica Alba, Annette Bening, Warren Beatty, Charlize Theron, Ann Hathaway, Kanye West, Pharrell Williams, Wyclef Jean, and Obama documentary producer Edward Norton, just to name a few.

For more information, check out the article on People.com.

While the month of August is wrapping up, the promotions and giveaways are not! Poker, blackjack and slot tournaments are happening up and down the coast. Resorts AC is giving away up to $150,000 in saving bonds for education! Delaware Park is giving away up to $15,000 in cash!

Bangor's Hollywood Slots celebrates the newest addition to their $132 million dollar complex: The Hollywood Slots Hotel.

WLBZ2 has coverage of the event.

This is a great addition to the facility as well as the local community.

We have been covering the Bangor Hollywood Slots since our launch, this summer they are offering visitors the opportunity to win $500,000 every day in August.

Every other Friday, a new How-to-Play (H2P) article is posted illustrating a popular or sometimes a not-so-popular game on the casino floor.

Calling himself "Robin Hood 702," an individual is trying to turn the tables on a family's life. As a self-proclaimed blackjack expert and shrouded in secrecy Robin Hood 702 has set up a website where people can submit their stories until September 15^th as to why he should help them pay off their debts. Instead of seeking fame or glory, he's chosen to be anonymous.

"I'm looking for a well deserving family up against hard times. People $25,000 to $50,000 in debt who did right by family or neighbors in the past. Now it's their time to be helped and I want to be the one to help them," Robin Hood 702 told Rick Leventhal of Fox News.

Continued after the break.

Who says the house always wins? Due to a glitch with a Video Lottery Terminal (VLT) machine at Twin River, formerly Lincoln Park, in Rhode Island, for almost seven weeks a machine was simply doubling all wagers made at it. Some players would simply place a bet, get the credit then immediately cash out, giving them the best odds possible in a casino.

Before the glitch was caught, Twin River lost a whopping $450,115!

An explanation as to why this problem was caught sooner after the break.

Last month, TIME Magazine wrote up an article giving details into each candidates game of choice and what that says about them as individuals. But TIME is quick to point out that this is hardly something new:

For centuries, the nation's political leaders have loved their games of chance. Andrew Jackson owned fighting cocks and raced horses. Richard Nixon helped finance his first congressional race with his World War II poker winnings. Teddy Roosevelt noted that the professional gamblers he knew "usually made good soldiers."

Looking for something different this week? If you're in Atlantic City, check out the Air Show at either Caesars or Trump Plaza! Finger Lakes in New York is having a contest giving away a Mercedes-Benz! Harrington Raceway in Delaware is celebrating their 12th Anniversary with giveaways you won't want to miss!

At the beginning of August, Dennis Conrad released his annual "The Best (And Worst) Casino Promotions" list. Seeing as we at Comptropolis haven't been around long enough to make our own best and worst lists, here are some highlights from Conrad's list:

"Junk works -- Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nev.

While this article isn't the newest, it was too good to pass up on account of the absurdity.

A man in Florida was arrested after calling 911 twice in the same day to report that a slot machine had stolen all of his money. Either there is an actual one-armed bandit who committing larceny or this guy needs to learn some basics about money management and gambling.

Over the past year, there have been some heated discussions concerning the right to have casinos in the state of Massachusetts, there is currently an offshore casino, but we don't cover those here at Comptropolis.

A recently commissioned report written by the independent group Spectrum Gaming Group clearly states essential modifications to potential creation of three casinos in the state. While advocates are still opposed to the casino building in the state, the report stated that opening three casinos would allow the state to take in almost $600 million in tax revenue.

On Wednesday August 13th, Trump Plaza is giving away $1,000 to one lucky player every 15 minutes!

Sweepstakes, gas cards, cash and free play!

Interested in what promotions casinos near you are offering? We've got you covered!

Harrahs Atlantic City is offering weekly blackjack tournaments and Caesars AC is throwing a James Bond themed night. Interested in winning a mystery car? Twin River is letting you enter to win their Incredible Dream Machine!

Tomorrow at Saratoga Racecourse, the give away is a Saratoga Stadium Seat!

Remember, items are free with paid admission while supplies last.

Every other Friday, a new How-to-Play (H2P) article is posted illustrating a popular or sometimes a not-so-popular game on the casino floor.

At Comptropolis, we see a lot of casino promotions. I mean a lot. What makes us take notice? Life changing prizes like Trump's Mortgage Payoff Sweepstakes, or timely prizes like free gas specials or Foxwoods' Go Hybrid 5 promotion (which sounds akin to a kids anime cartoon).

Twin River's most recent promotion, The Incredible Dream Machine, struck us like any other car giveaway. That was until we dug into the fine print: The "Dream Machine" is currently "TBA".

So, being a Friday and with such an empty canvas to play with, we present the five vehicles it is least likely to be:

5. The Homer

There are a mess of deals and promotions happening on August 8th, 2008. Given the casino industry's fetish for triple numbers (last year was 777, next year is going to be 999), everyone is getting in on the action and offering up something.

The list of all the casino promotions we could find in our geographic area relating to 888 after the break.

Interested in learning how to play craps but never got around to it? This informative video is longer than we'd like, running over 40 minutes in length but it's full of great information. The production is pretty decent, though the sound slowly gets more out of sync as the video continues. I think the voice over in the history is the guy from Legends of the Hidden Temple.

Video after the break.

On Thursday August 7th from noon to 6 pm, ten winners will be selected each hour to win $100 and be given the chance to crack the safe worth $999!

Just recently, the NH general assembly changed the law to allow Texas Hold'em Poker tournaments at specific gambling establishments throughout the state. Now, because of an additional change to the law, two of the casinos we cover (Rockingham Park and The Lodge At Belmont) could see the introduction of Roulette, Craps and Blackjack as well. Will we be also seeing more sophisticated deals and offers coming from these establishments anytime soon? Only time will tell. We assume that these additional games are a sign that the state is looking to build more charity gaming revenue in light of the economic challenges facing the nation. According to the article, $1.7M - $2M will go to charity, thanks to Rockingham Park.

We expect that these games will fair well, considering the fact that the closest casinos offering traditional poker and table games are in CT, which is an expensive gas tank away. The competition in the Northeast is heating up, which can only mean that CT casinos will be extending more benefits to Northern Massachusetts and New Hampshire club members.

Click here for the full story.

Win Up To $8,888!
August 6 - August 29, 2008
Every Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
Drawings Every Hour, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Seven is normally the lucky number, but in August... it will be eight! Beginning August 6, play your favorite slots and table games to earn entries. You could get a chance to roll the dice for cash or prizes. Roll three eights, win $8,888. Roll two eights or a combination that adds up to eight, win $888. Roll one eight, win $188 Seneca Slot Dollars and everyone who rolls is guaranteed to win at least $88 Seneca Slot Dollars!

Win A Sony Blu-Ray DVD Player!
Every Tuesday in August (August 5th - 26th)
Drawings every 30 minutes from 12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. & 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Nightly Finale Drawing at 9 p.m.

See and hear all your favorite movies in high definition sound and picture with the Picture Perfect Sony Blu-Ray DVD Player Giveaway.

Win Up To $100 In Match Play!
August 4 - August 25, 2008
Every Monday
Drawings Every Hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Our table games just got hotter!

Every Monday in August, we'll randomly select one winning table each hour and if yours is the Lucky Table, you could win $25, $50 or even $100 in Match Play! So choose your tables wisely and may the luck be with you!

Tomorrow at Saratoga Racecourse, the give away is a Saratoga T-shirt!

Remember, items are free with paid admission while supplies last.

On August 2nd from 11:45 am until midnight, $5,000 cash will be given away every 15 minutes! A total of $250,000 will be given away!

Mohegan Sun's $188,000* Action on the Eights Giveaway

There is only one 8-8-8, and only one place to be - Mohegan Sun Arena.

Swipe your Player's Club card to earn your entries in Earth or Sky Promotions.

Friday, August 8th

Every Friday in August from 7pm - 10pm, you have a chance to win Free Bonus Play money at Twin River Casino in Rhode Island! Each Friday night, $8,000 is given away! The grand prize of $500 a week for a whole year will be given away on Friday the 29th at 11 pm!