Almost there with another bac friend.  Stopped to get gas and had a late breakfast. 

Seems these Chinese players got caught as most all eventually do because of their own greed and believing they can outsmart the system. 

Anyone remember the Tran Organization??


https://www.casino.org/news/multi-state-baccarat-scam-nets-1-5m-cops-hunt-cheating-ring/

https://cdcgaming.com/brief/six-charged-in-1-5m-baccarat-cheating-scheme-at-casinos-across-the-usa/

IMO they brought it all on themselves.  They took their bread and butter and made it so others can profit on it from their own customers and future customers in other jurisdictions. 

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/las-vegas-casino-dealers-face-layoffs-amid-tourism-slump/

Read into anyway you want but I know they caused it all themselves.  It all began around 2013-2015 with the revamping of the two largest brands, points and promotional programs.  Then the rising on all prices by the branded chains as well as the local establishments, etc., and so on. 

The payment could be split among more than a million people in the class-action suit, and after lawyer fees are taken into consideration, it could result in as little as $2 per person.

Despite the low relative payment to get out of the situation, O'Neal is still going to lose out. He was paid roughly $750,000 to promote FTX, and will now pay out more than $1 million in damages after the company's collapse.

https://www.mensjournal.com/sports/shaquille-oneal-agrees-to-pay-1-8-million-settlement

I posted earlier that the Chicago gaming destination market was getting extremely aggressive.  I will tell you they have some of the highest table maximums by far, for 'Off The Street' walk in, no front money players. 

Lots to do in and around Chicago with great food as well!  Prices all around are cheaper as a plus for your out of pocket expenses.

From Timeout:

News

A new study says Las Vegas isn't the best casino city in America—here's what beat it

How could this happen?!

For gamblers—both high-stakes players and people who can barely push a dollar into a slot machine—there's one destination that comes to mind when you think of casinos. It's a city famous for its neon, its enormous themed hotels, its successful ad campaign that promises secrecy and blanket forgiveness for whatever happens there, and a reputation for constantly coming up with new things to entertain visitors. That city is Las Vegas. But shockingly, a new study says that, despite all of that, Vegas isn't the number-one casino city in America—so what the heck is?

RECOMMENDED: The most fun city in America? Las Vegas, of course

In fact, in the list of best casino cities in the U.S. by gaming aggregator SlotMatrix, Las Vegas isn't even in the second or third spot. Somehow, Sin City came in fourth, while a city that few people associate with casinos—Chicago, Illinois—managed to wind up in first place.

Let's look at how that's even possible: The study looked at a variety of data, including how many casinos there are per 100,000 residents of the city; how many casinos have connected hotels or restaurants; the number of slot machines, table games and poker tables in each casino; the number of late-night bars open in the city; average hotel price; and  the percentage increase of online searches since 2022 for casino-related travel to that city.

After crunching all those variables, Chicago shows up as the clear winner. Okayyy.

To be fair, Chicago does have the highest number of table games and poker tables per casino—159 per casino—and the third highest number of slot machines, at 2,100. Interest in traveling to Chicago for its casinos has increased by 258-percent since 2022, according to an analysis of Google searches. Yet both Detroit and Philadelphia have higher percentage of online interest, with 340 percent and 336 percent, respectively.

In second place is Detroit, Michigan, another destination we don't necessarily associate with gambling, yet it came out with the most slot machines per casino and the largest increase in travel-related searches. Atlantic City—finally, a city that does have a casino-based reputation—came in third place overall, with the highest number of casinos per 100,000 people.

As for Vegas, well, darn it. The Nevada town does have one of the highest densities of casinos per 100,000 people, but its hotels are expensive (that's because you can literally pretend you're in Venice, Paris, Egypt or medieval England while you're there, fantasy elements that cost a pretty penny). However, the priciest hotel night actually is found in Detroit, where an average night costs $304. In comparison, the average hotel cost in Vegas is $210, the fourth highest behind Pittsburgh ($285) and Chicago ($232).

We're all little unsure of how all the metrics are weighted because scrutinizing the data actually makes it look like Detroit should win out over Chicago—and Atlantic City and Las Vegas should be worlds above those cities. Ah well, whatever happens in Chicago will be immediately shared with your significant other.

Here's the list of the top 10 casino destinations in the U.S.:

1. Chicago, Illinois

2. Detroit, Michigan

3. Atlantic City, New Jersey

4. Las Vegas, Nevada

5. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

6. Everett, Washington

7. Prior Lake, Minnesota

8. St. Louis, Minnesota

9. Biloxi, Mississippi

10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Deadly shooting outside the Bellagio last night concerning online YouTube social media posting between two competitors.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_aDS6eJp_uM&pp=ygURQmVsbGlnaW8gc2hvdHRpbmc%3D

This next one will explain it all.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0QR49os0UNI&list=RDNSdS-Qm2Mof4I&index=5

There are many parts to good solid MMM. Probably the most important Single aspect of one is the drawdown.  A drawdown is the amount of buy-in you will lose before you really start winning.

You and the results of your wagering have to do the management of your money. The Management of your Money is the Method. Money Management Method.

From what I have observed over the years, there is a large misconception of win money.  Most all players are under the belief that they must replenish their last lost buy-in to get 'EVEN' and then accumulate some kind of a unknown profit amount as well. 

You must reserve your buy-in after you have won, do not risk it any further. You must divide up your winnings when you do win. Towards Bankroll. Towards Pocket. Towards Continued Play.  Those three revert back to my 1/3rd, 1/3rd, 1/3rd, I have often wrote about.

All the testing you desire, will only add real confusion along with misrepresentation of what the game is actually about. Seriously be careful what you practice and attempt to figure out. Live it in real play and be serious.  RNG's and their results are not awfully similar to live baccarat.  RNG's in free play mode are much more predictable and use as a definite 'suck in' to whatever online game they are promoting you to be part of.  BE CAREFUL!

RISK CAPITAL.  I use the term 'Risk Capital' within my writing.  It is paramount in gambling MMM protocols.  Most will not recognize that.  But it is by far and large.  Please understand Risk Capital and the purpose of classifying your Bankroll and Buy-ins as strictly and solely Risk Capital.  Same as any other investment for a pathway to earn a profit.  You have to be willing to lose your Buy-in with little to no emotions and frustrations or you will suffer harm in many many ways that will be detrimental to your gaming pursuits. 

I have witnessed countless players in brick & mortar casinos, that maintain no Bankroll and their Buy-ins are what they consider their Bankroll.  If they lose the session, they have to wait until they have additional funds to gambling again.  Hence, their Buyin is their Bankroll.  And that my friends is completely wrong and extremely mind boggling when they gambling.  It creates pressure and emotional city to the max! 

It is generally a Catch-22 to gamble that way.  Lose and your falling into an emotional and frustrating pit.  Win and your mind is battling with building a Bankroll or larger and larger and longer play at the table, which will 99.99% of all times grind you right down. 

So, what is one to do!  What is a good player advantaged and solid Money Management Method? 

Bank Rolls, Buy-Ins, Money Management, Wagering, Believes, Etc.

Money Management Methods tailored for your style and profit goals, etc., is the way to fuel your $$$ into your pockets when you gamble!

Lack of it will make you unsuccessful, not your choice of wagers or most other things, but lack of a money management system will hurt you more than any other thing in gambling, period!

The whole picture is your Bank roll and what you risk when you play out of your bank roll.  Personally, when I am playing locally and not staying for a week, say in Las Vegas or another major gambling destination, I only take my buy-in which is a small percentage of my dedicated bank roll.  Personally, I do risk my buy-in for the session without a stop loss.  More times than not, meaning the majority of times I can profit.  The few times I do loss my buy-in, it is far outweighed by my wins, because I use a 1/3rd Money Management System that, I refined to allow myself to leave with win money and as well?replace my original buy-in without further risk to that either. 

Buy-Ins.  So, buy-ins are totally separate from the bank roll.  They have to be, there is no other way! My recommendation is a 5-10% buy-in at the most of the bank roll.  Personally, I cannot envision playing every day as many state they do or desire to do, unless it is for a small few units profit and the gambler has an extremely large drawdown Bankroll of sheer risk capital available.  The fallacy of winning every day or having large enough bank rolls to survive hundreds of units of down swings to make a few units, is still 'dreamsville' to me after playing for around 40 years, at least for aggressive play anyways.  Personally, once or twice a week is about it, at least on a regular basis, IMO and experience.  My other rock solid iron clad rule that I might break once every 100 trips, is never buying in a second time if the buy in was lost without being able to play on win money. 

Win Money.  Personally, I employ my 1/3rd-1/3rd-1/3rd money management system which cannot and will not fail me to replace my buy-in and always leave with win money.  Period. 

What so many baccarat players I have played alongside, observed and been associated with over the years, make a single mistake.  Which is, the continued buying in after they lose their initial buy-in.  They have no structure or self-control, none whatsoever.  They will drain themselves in the worst catch-22 situations they create and entrap themselves in.  If you lose, you lose.  That is it.  If you can't get past this, nothing can or will ever help you.  Nothing, zip.  I promise you from the bottom my heart.  Keep losing your units and keep flat betting or even negative progression and all you do is sink yourself worse and worse.

Win money causes more clouded vision and obnoxious behavior at the baccarat table.  Get over it.  Know what wins are and how they come or do not come in proportion to losses.  You will do yourself a huge justice by learning what I just said. 

Stop believing what you play on paper using a free game, such as the one on Wizard of Odds website or any of the other on-line casino websites where they offer practice shoes.  There are other factors within a casino that come into play that do not exist on the internet. 

If you have no plan or a haphazard notion, or you sometimes do this or that with your win money---you will risk it and lose it every single time.  Those that use their win money to fuel their positive session they start to encounter will eventually lose it all, because you will play until you get back all your losses, you will lose it all plus anything you have access to.  Happens over and over, each and every single day at the casinos.

Do not keep adding to your bank roll.  You will doom yourself.

Do not play larger because you won a few sessions.

1-2-3-4 or 2-4-6-12, etc., positive progression will kill you if you religiously do them over and over.  I talked about this numerous times in other posts I written.  It is easy to win one or two wagers, it is really hard beyond comprehension to continually win 4 or more in a row.  300 to 600 to 1,200 to 2,400 will happen rarely, your lost units will outweigh by huge amounts, your won units!  That is why I subscribe to 1-3-2-6 and other versions of that style.  If I win one or two, then I ride free to win larger.  Another story and like I said, I wrote and explained that in detailed before on the board.  I promise you that it is the only way to do good-okay or at least better in the long run. 

Concerning playing every day or say 5 to 6 times a week, your mind will not allow you to play level headed and repeatedly profit a set amount of profitable units and continually build you bank roll.  So many preach it, it is not realistic or doable for beginning or less experienced players IMO.  Sorry to harp on it, but I see it all the time.  It is not going to happen.  You will lose more than you win.  Again, looks great on paper and in theory, but you cannot and will not do it and religiously profit every week, week in and week out.

So much talk about 1's, 2's and 3's.  With it or against it.  The times you are correct you will eventually (seriously 100% of the time over say a period of sessions) give it all back by continually believing and wagering the way you just won.  That same shoe will produce just as many 1's, 2's and 3's and "cuts", the opposite way that you wager on, and if that one does not---the subsequent ones you will be playing that same day or the following days, will.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it will happen the absolute highest majority of the times. 

The way you can be successful at something like that, is to be there when it happens with a certain wagering thought, but immediately after you profit from it, you have to religiously subscribe to 'refreshing and resetting' and forgetting about that.  Not particularly easy as the psychological effect will attempt to steer you to what just made you $$$ and made you delightful and feeling good all over.  Then as you attempt the replication of that same series of wagering, the shoe presentments went the opposite ways. 

Money Management Methods.  M.M.M. is much more than a negative or a positive progression.  Much more than a win-stop or a loss-stop.  That is where so many will fail as well.  They play all the time, every session as if attempting to repeat their best one or copy in real life as to what they learned on paper or the internet.  Real life is a bit different than Doctor Seuss books once you are older than say 10 years old, IMO.  Realize it.

There are coincidences and phenomena in baccarat, and that is what will cloud your vision and confuse you, more than anything else in this game!  Instilling a bad sense of knowledge you will (I promise you!) wager on.  Meaning, what you saw altered your good vision or your good sense of judgement and you believed the shoe will present the hands according to what you desire through wishful thinking or fallacy beliefs.  Once you figure all this out through experience and losses, you can become a very profitable baccarat player.  Real life analogy.  Think of what I just said in this paragraph as erotic foreplay you seen in a movie.  Translate that to yourself and your erotic desires.  How many times will you lay your eyes on a female, grasp each other, go buy the bottle of wine and strip each other's clothes off and find yourself on those silk and satin sheets with the wind blowing through the open window and the dove that, suddenly flew in and perched himself on the bedpost as you make love to the most beautiful girl you happened to meet in your life and you don't even know her name?

Playing wagers of -?-, -?- or -?- of the shoes or only wagering after ever 4th repeating banker or player for the '1s' or the 'cuts', does not matter.  As many times as you win those, you will lose when those do not happen.  Simple.  But those that go into dialogs, real convincing and real slick ones will probably convince you otherwise.  Counting, waiting and looking for an event will not work in the long run.  It might for the same day-one session and if you only play once or twice a year, but it will not if you play on a regular basis.  Playing that way will kill you, it will wipe you out, I promise you!

As Asym has highlighted numerous times, fewer wagers are better.  Although most all will not care to engage in an everything in, one-time wager for each session, there are ways to gain advantages IMO.

The following has suited me well.

Take for instance a $1,000.00 buy-in.  You can adjust with anything you feel comfortable with of course.

I favor a 4 attempt to get the feel for a session.  Although grinding has not (NOT) suited me well over the years, personally need a visual and physical stack increase to really start my session wins and get power along with clearer mind-set, etc., etc., and so on.

So like I said a $1,000.00 buy-in. 

Split into 4 attempts of $250.00 each. 

Attempt 1.  $250, if won full parlay to $500.  If won full parlay to $1,000.  If won, pull it all (ALL) down and move on to attempt #2.

So you are shooting for 3 wins and then reset with each base wager, in my example cases that is $250.00.  If I lose my other 3 attempts I still almost doubled my money.  That is winning any one of the 4 attempts anyways.  Win 2 and really start getting ahead.

To those 10 or so members that emailed me and PM'd me, here is my way of thinking and why it is better IMO and long time experience.

* Because small number are a sheer and dangerous grind.
* Because grinding will suck you in and hurt you.
* Because grinding wears you down.
* Because grinding forces most all to chase.
* Because it is much easier to win quicker.
* Because you can only win a smaller amount of wagers in any session unless it is a rare session.
* Because if you are going to win, you will generally do it from the beginning or near the beginning of your play without harming your session.

If I won 3 out of the 4, I would continue into another session of the same type but pocketing double and/or triple my buy-in along with my buyin. 

Win more with greater safety!

Here it is and it is audacity with a capital 'A'. 

But fees and service charges will be charged and paid by those because, well.............just because.

https://www.casino.org/vitalvegas/fees-gone-wild-mgm-resorts-charges-for-plates-forks-and-napkins/

Yes Chicago is a super aggressive casino market with extremely high table limits.  Table limits are anywhere from $25,000 to $1000,000 without front money required.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/02/20/us-casinos-best-year-ever-chicago/#:~:text=Nevada%20remains%20the%20nation's%20top,with%20%2415.5%20billion%20in%20revenue.

And for example here is Ameristar's description of their baccarat room.

BACCARAT ROOM
The newly renovated Baccarat Room is the best place to play in Chicagoland featuring 11 Baccarat tables.
PLACE YOUR BETS


You'll find our newly expanded and renovated Baccarat Room on the casino's third floor. This new state-of-the-art gaming room is complete with 11 Baccarat tables, offering minimum bets of $15 and maximum bets up to $25,000.

We offer a wide variety of games including:

-Dragon Bonus, a bonus side wager that pays on the margin of your win

-2 EZ Baccarat, an exciting variation on Baccarat where no commission is taken

-Dragon 7

-Panda 8

Plus, after 30 minutes of rated play, receive a comp at our Red Lotus Asian Kitchen which specializes in authentic Pacific Rim dishes and conveniently located inside the Baccarat Room.

Looking to play Baccarat but in an exciting high-stakes action environment? Visit our High Limit room which also includes two new Baccarat tables.

And as far as I know, the highest table maximums are at Rivers Casino in the Chicagoland area. 

A brief background reference Indian gaming and what got them to the point they are at today.

Because of the decision, the Seminole Tribe was able to build and operate the nation's first tribally-owned high-stakes bingo parlor on their reservation in Florida, even though bingo for profit was illegal under Florida law at the time. Many other tribes later followed the Seminole Tribe's lead by building their own bingo parlors on their reservations, leading many scholars to call the Seminole Tribe's victory in this case the "birth" of modern commercial gambling on reservations

And let's not forget the following:  "In March 2007, the Seminole Tribe of Florida acquired Hard Rock International, Inc. and other related entities from The Rank Group Plc. Today, Hard Rock International is one of the most globally recognized companies in the world and has venues in over 70 countries; Cafes, Casinos and Hotels."


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminole_Tribe_v._Butterworth

"Lin and Zhongqui are in the United States as political refugees from China, their attorney said. Both men took plea deals on a charge of possession of stolen property, court documents said. Neither admitted guilt but took Alford pleas, meaning they agreed prosecutors had enough evidence to sway a jury."

My take on it:

1). From California and go to Vegas to pick up cash they defrauded out of people.  Seriously?

2). They need a translator in court but to defraud the victims they were just fine.  Seriously?

3). Plea deals for extremely less time it would have took them to legally earn the money in China.  Seriously you can bet your A*s on that!

4). What about the others that never came forward because of being embarrassed or something else? 

5). Can you imagine what the consequences would be if they committed the same type of acts in China and were caught?

6). "Lin and Zhongqui are in the United States as political refugees from China, their attorney said."  OMG Holy Sh*t!  I'm totally floored by that one!  (I'm being a bit comical)

The perpetrators summary of it:

"I just want to apologize to all the victims," Zhongqui said through the help of a translator during his sentencing last month. Lin also apologized.




https://www.8newsnow.com/investigators/las-vegas-police-arrest-12-in-3m-fraud-scheme-don't-be-embarrassed/

Come on!!!  You have to love this:  "Wynn reached a "non-prosecution agreement" with the U.S. Department of Justice to resolve the 10-year-old investigation over unlicensed money transfers from around the world funneling funds to gamblers at Wynn Las Vegas."


https://cdcgaming.com/wynn-resorts-third-las-vegas-strip-operator-to-face-multi-million-dollar-fine-in-the-past-two-months/

When you win big for yourself, think!  Wins do not come large all the time no matter who you are or how skilled you think you are or might be.  Read the following article this morning and had to do a double take on it.  Great thinking on Sanders part.

Point being, all in proportion to what you normally do or infrequently accomplish. 


NFL rookies often go viral for their first big purchase after getting drafted. Some rookies will buy an expensive car. Other rookies will buy some luxurious jewelry or clothing. Of course, some will choose to spend on family, buying their parents a house or paying off a sibling's college tuition.

Sanders, whose father, Deion Sanders, made tens of millions of dollars in the NFL and is now a multi-millionaire head coach at Colorado, is already pretty well off. However, no one would blame him if he decided to make a big purchase now that he has been drafted.

The fifth round NFL Draft pick is making roughly $4.6 million over the next four years. Sanders has announced what he'll be spending his first NFL paycheck on.

BEREA, OHIO - MAY 09: Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns walks off the field after rookie minicamp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on May 09, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images
Sanders made an announcement on what he'll be spending his first NFL paycheck on:

Nothing.

That's right, Sanders has announced that instead of spending on a car or a house or jewelry, he's choosing to save his money instead. He'll be investing it, rather than spending it.

"I'm not tryna buy anything," Sanders told reporters. "My signing bonus ain't that high right now."

Sanders made it clear that he has one goal right now: making the roster.

"I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity," Sanders said. "I don't ever focus on the negative or even think about the negative. I've just got to prove and show what I'm capable of. What fuels me is my purpose in life and understanding the route that we're going to have to take. Understanding that I was able to get an opportunity when a lot of people didn't want to give me an opportunity. So that's what I'm truly thankful for."

It's a mature, classy answer from Sanders. And it shows real character that he knows that he has his work cut out for him. While his contract is worth $4 million over four years, there's no guarantee that he'll even make the team.

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/2-las-vegas-strip-hotels-sued-over-bed-bugs-after-hotel-guests-were-allegedly-bitten/

I have made a decision not to write and post any threads or in any threads for quite awhile.

I will still Admin and monitor all threads as normal.

Thanks,
Stay well,
Alrelax

What happens to the plants when the Bellagio Conservatory changes themes?


https://www.ktnv.com/news/what-happens-to-the-plants-when-the-bellagio-conservatory-changes-themes

I entered the shoe right after the 8-IAR player streak, bought in as soon as the single Natural Banker appeared.

Lost my first hand to players, wagered Banker base bet, Fortune 7, heavenly 9s and blazing 7s. Next hand I hit my first Fortune 7, BOOM!

I looked and studied the previous play posted on the scoreboard, which I don't always do and don't always subscribe to, but I did. Chops, 2s, 3s and strong players. I missed the 3 card 200:1 blazing 7s, as you see right after the panda 8 at the start of the 8 players IAR.

My decision was only wagering banker base bets and 3 side bets for one section at least. Reason being, equalization and strong platforms forming. Like I've said in the past until I was blue in the face, "Wager with what is being presented". And to me that's what was being presented.

Lost two players. Won one bankers. Lost two players. I won a 3 card 9 on player side.

Boom!  Another Fortune 7 and two more bankers. Also the tie was a beautiful 50:1 two card 7-7 win!

Lost the two players. Won a bank. Lost three players.

Then a banker win.  Won 3 card 9 on bankers and another banker.

Then another Fortune 7 for my scrumptious amazing hit!

Lost two players and won the 3 card 9 on players side as well.

Won a banker.

Lost a player. Then won a beautiful 75:1 on the 3 card 9-9 tie.  (A few of us had terrific amount of energy while the rest were losing. What happened on this hand, I would like to say. The players pull a blackjack and the bankers had a 9 and a 2. The players pull an 8 and those wagering on the players were fist pumping their hands in the air and telling everybody how they won the hand.  Myself and one other had maximum Wager on the heavenly 9s.  We look at each other and call for a snowman and we both stand up and tell everybody, "it's not over til it's over". And sure enough the dealer flops a snowman, gotta love it!).

Lost the next 2players. Won a banker. Lost a player. Won the 3 bankers with parlays. Stopped didn't play the last three or four hands of the shoe, which it was the same as what just happened.

NEW SHOE:

Next shoe played the first 10 hands. I have written until I was blue in the face about the first 10 to 16 hands in the past. Research it and see.

First hand was a 2 card 7-7 tie, a beautiful 50:1 win.  Won the 2 Fortune 7s, BADDA BING BADDA BOOM!. Won the 3 card 9 on the playerers side. Stopped end of session.  Won 7 bankers and 2 Fortune 7s and the 3 card 9 on the players side.  Enough.  Done.  If I played longer, I knew I couldn't reset to what is the equivalent of starting a new session.  My next session in a week or so, I most certainly can.  That's me, I know how I am. 

NOTE:  Resetting yourself and being oblivious to recent wins is vital to maintaining a clear thought vision, IMO.   

Yes I wanted to play more. Yes I had visions of winning more. But I was in reality, took the handsome profit cashed out and left.

The game is Baccarat.  You decide how to wager, when to wager and how long to stay.

POST CASINO:  HMoney, another and myself went to one of the restaurants we favor to chill out.  We had a special blend of Vietnamese iced coffee that brews at your table and PHO.  It drips and drips into the concentrated cream and then you stir it extensively.  Then pour into the tall ice filled glass. Add a bit of iced water.  See pictures.  Talk, chill and leave the casino out of it.

Las Vegas
A Panoramic Vision

By:  David Miller
12 X 17"
256 Pages
Published 2007

A beautiful oversized amazing book!  So much history and great shots of everything in a casino, the buildings and around Vegas.

I don't believe it is being published any longer but maybe some are available through auction sites, etc.

Highly recommended x100!

7-20-22.

Why?  I don't know, but the few times I observe I would witness those hit.

A Clark County District Court judge has ruled that Las Vegas-based gaming equipment manufacturer Light & Wonder jumped the gun by marketing a no-commission baccarat game from the British Columbia Lottery Corp. called Ruyi Baccarat before an agreement it had with a rival gaming provider had expired.

Read On:

https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/casinos-gaming/judge-rules-vegas-gaming-company-breached-agreement-by-marketing-baccarat-game-3316135/?utm_campaign=widget&utm_medium=recommend

See attached picture of mine, I play on a Light & Wonder 5 Treasures.

The last couple of months have reflected Atlantic City casinos' offseason period. December didn't change much as the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement reported that properties produced $231.8 million in December revenue.

Atlantic City casinos generated $2.82 billion in 2024 earnings. It's a 1.1% decrease from 2023 when the industry recorded $2.85 billion.

The retail industry finished just ahead of New Jersey online casinos in December, which set another record last month by posting $228 million. After slipping to iGaming revenue for the first time ever in October, Atlantic City has been able to fend off the vertical in each of the last two months.

As the heart of the offseason continues, it'll remain a tough task to do so.

AC casinos slightly increase from November

The 3.5% month-over-month increase from November likely saved the retail industry from falling behind online casinos for the second time ever. Atlantic City casinos posted $223.9 million in November.

Despite the increase on a month-over-month basis, properties remained flat year-over-year, showing a 0.3% decline from December 2023. Jane Bokunewicz, faculty director of the Lloyd D. Levenson Institute of Gaming, Hospitality and Tourism (LIGHT) at the Stockton University School of Business, said in a statement about the status of the retail industry:

"The December calendar did not fall favorably this year for Atlantic City operators. ... Internet gaming, which does not seem to be impacted by the number of weekends in the month in the same way that in-person gaming is, predictably showed a year-over-year increase for the month."

The weekends are a key component to AC casinos. The city had four full weekends in December. Perhaps the holiday provided that slight bump last month for AC operators.

Concerns that online casinos are cannibalizing AC casinos?

It's no secret that iGaming operators are taking the gambling market by storm in states where it is legal, especially in New Jersey. That has brought on fears about the vertical cutting into Atlantic City properties.

Bokunewicz clearly admits to the rapid popularity of online casinos. However, she's not hitting the panic button in Atlantic City, either:

"New Jersey was a fast mover when it came to innovative new gaming products, such as internet gaming, and the state seems to be reaping the benefits of this. The industry is evolving and changing. These new products are very popular and do not seem to have reached their peak.

"At the same time, brick-and-mortar revenues have been relatively flat. They are not showing signs of proportionate decline, which we'd expect if cannibalization were an issue."

Both verticals, but especially AC casinos, will "need to stay on top of emerging trends and responsive to changes in customer preferences," Bokunewicz said.

She also warned against the potential competition the industry could face in light of New York's downstate casinos.

Breaking down Atlantic City casino December revenue

Casino Name.  Numbers to match the 4 areas below from left to right.

Total Gaming Win    Table Games    Poker    Slot Machines

Borgata    $62,727,821 $18,935,367 $1,125,558
$42,666,896

Hard Rock    $42,847,522    $13,066,813  (No Poker) $29,780,709

Resorts    $12,366,684    $2,577,693 (No Poker)  $9,788,991

Ocean Casino    $34,679,044    $7,787,019 (No Poker)  $26,892,025

Harrah's    $19,287,538 $3,709,048    $222,997
$15,355,493

Tropicana    $19,898,558 $5,078,712    $145,393    $14,674,453

Caesars    $19,013,828    $6,808,858 (No Poker)  $12,204,969

Golden Nugget    $10,923,090    $2,419,937  (No Poker)  $8,503,153

Bally's    $10,008,814    $1,903,641  (No Poker)  $8,105,173

Total All Casinos  $231,752,899    $62,287,089    $1,493,948    $167,971,862

Las Vegas
An Unconventional History

By:  Michelle Ferrari and Stephen Ives

$40.00 Cover Price
272 Pages
Oversized book

Absolut a great history of Las Vegas and gaming as well.  Easy reading.  Great collection of countless items and events that developed Vegas and gaming in the city.  From the earliest days to Vegas today.

To name just a few of the areas covered:

The buildings
The games
The entertainment
The wedding chapels
The mob
The Ratpack
The Frontier
The Stardust
The Sahara
The Flamingo
The Sands

Highly recommend without question!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YH8mh8e8L_c

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ9dCkuALok&t=11s&pp=ygUOb3duaW5nIG1haG93bnk%3D

Come on brother, this is funny!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eC5cE09Ypyc&t=9s