Beacon Hill Genuflects to More Drunks on the road

Beacon Hill Prostitution disregards PUBLIC SAFETY!

No debate, no fanfare, no discussion! Just slip it in?

What happened to  Senator Stanley Rosenberg opposition?

Review the costs of:  HAPPY HOUR

FROM MASSterlist:

Casinos’ last-call perk has its share of critics

Public safety officials and casino opponents are among those sounding warnings after the state budget process resulted in the state’s future casinos being able to request the right to serve alcohol until 4 a.m., then start serving again at 8 a.m. Local bars and restaurants say the carve-out puts them at a competitive disadvantage. Dan Atkinson and Jordan Graham of the Herald have more.   Boston Herald

Interesting budget tidbits: 4 a.m. liquor hours for casinos and T pension transfer

Gov. Baker yesterday signed, amended or rejected a number of policy riders within the state budget, two of which caught our attention, via the Globe: “Baker approved language, sought by the casino industry, to extend alcohol service at the gambling palaces until 4 a.m., two hours past what is permitted at the latest-serving restaurants and bars. Baker’s budget message also includes authorization for the state to transfer control of the MBTA employees pension fund into the state’s general pension program, a measure lawmakers have rejected previously.” MASSACHUSETTS DRUNKS ON THE ROAD? Conn. ended push for 24-hour bars at casinos after crash EXPANDED FREE ALCOHOL IS NOT  ''another little change'!  Massachusetts has only Plainridge Slot Barn open at this time and already CHANGES? How many DRUNKS do you want on the road?  Masachusetts is unable to reduce ALCOHOL RELATED fatalities now.  Reported by MASSterlist 04/14/2017: Rosenberg ‘not a fan’ of extending casino last calls to 4 a.m. The House budget unveiled earlier this week has an outside section that would allow casinos to sell liquor to gamblers an extra two hours till 4 a.m. But Shira Schoenberg at MassLive reports that Senate President Stan Rosenberg is “not a fan of the idea,” in his words. "We said we're not going to chip away at the statute because this is how it happens in state after state,"Rosenberg said. "First there's one little change, then another little change and before you know it the commonwealth loses control of the industry." MassLive Conn. ended push for 24-hour bars at casinos after crash State had hoped to collect more slot machine profits DRIVER CHARGED A sailor, Daniel E. Musser, 24, is charged with manslaughter and driving under the influence and faces up to 19 years in prison. By Gregory B. Hladky Globe Correspondent / March 22, 2009 HARTFORD - Officials looking to help solve Connecticut's multibillion-dollar deficit thought they had found an easy way to raise another $5 million a year: allow casinos to serve alcohol 24 hours a day. A sailor, Daniel E. Musser, 24, is charged with manslaughter and driving under the influence and faces up to 19 years in prison. DRIVER CHARGED More hours of bar service would mean more gambling, they figured, which would mean the state could collect more slot machine profits. But the proposal by Governor M. Jodi Rell's administration came to a sudden end at about 3:30 a.m. on March 7, when a car leaving the Mohegan Sun casino turned the wrong way down Interstate 395, headlights off, and slammed into a van full of college students on their way to Logan International Airport. They were scheduled for a flight to Uganda, where they had plans to help out at an orphan age over spring break. Elizabeth Durante, a 20-year-old pre-med student at Connecticut College in New London, was killed. The car's driver, Daniel E. Musser, 24, a sailor from the Naval Submarine Base in Groton, was charged with manslaughter and driving under the influence and faces up to 19 years in prison. The next day, Rell called Durante's death "an unconscionable tragedy" and pulled back her budget proposal to make alcohol available 24 hours at the casinos. "Even though this accident occurred under the laws as they have been for many years, the governor said it does give one pause to question the wisdom of extending liquor service hours at the casinos," Christopher Cooper, Rell spokesman, said recently. "We don't believe the bill is going to move forward this session." Chuck Bunnell, chief of staff for the Mohegan Tribal Council, agreed. "The Tribal Council in general has taken the position that it's time to pause and mourn the loss of this very bright light of humanity," Bunnell said, "that it's not appropriate to have those discussions right now." Bunnell said the tribe was originally "approached on a bipartisan basis" by lawmakers looking for ways to increase state revenue. Lori A. Potter, a spokeswoman for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, said analysts at the tribe's Foxwoods Resort Casino stand by their prediction that extending casino bar hours would result in an increase in state revenue. "It is important to note that it would be impossible to find a more heavily regulated serving establishment in the state of Connecticut than the two casinos," Potter said. Connecticut law requires the casinos' bars to stop serving by 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and by 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. One of the arguments originally used in favor of allowing longer serving hours was that their competitors in Atlantic City serve alcohol 24 hours a day. Legal hours for bars to serve alcohol vary greatly across the United States, according to Steven Schmidt, vice president for public policy at the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association. In Massachusetts, for example, state law allows service until 11 p.m., but local governing bodies can extend the hours to 2 a.m. In states such as New Jersey and Nevada, Schmidt said, local authorities are allowed to set bar closing hours. Charles H. Gartman, one of the students with Durante in the van that night, has difficulty understanding why anyone thought round-the-clock liquor at the casinos was a good idea. "Twenty-four-hour bar service is a little bit ridiculous," Gartman said last week in a phone interview from his New York City home. "You can't trust everyone to drink and drive safely." Gartman, 19 and a sophomore at Connecticut College, has not yet recovered from injuries he suffered in the crash. The five other passengers also suffered injuries, some minor. "Both my legs were pretty banged up, and at first I couldn't walk," he said. "I have pretty severe lacerations on my chin." Nor has he recovered from the loss of Durante, of West Islip, N.Y. Gartman said it was Durante who got him interested in going to Uganda to aid orphaned children. "It was her enthusiasm for helping people," he recalled. Stephanie Hinman, who was Durante's roommate and one of the students on the Uganda trip, finds it ironic that her friend would die at the hands of an accused drunk driver. "Neither Liz nor I ever drank," Hinman said from her home in Norfolk, Conn. "We lived together in the substance-free dorm." In a 2007 interview with a college publication, Durante said she wanted to become a surgeon and work in Africa with Doctors Without Borders. For Janice Heggie Margolis, executive director of the Connecticut chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Durante's death provided tragic evidence of why casino liquor hours should never be expanded. She said the potential price to society of more fatal crashes is simply too high, no matter how much money might flow to the state. "This is exactly the reason why," Heggie Margolis said. "You can never put on paper the cost of a life." http://archive.boston.com/news/local/connecticut/articles/2009/03/22/conn_ended_push_for_24_hour_bars_at_casinos_after_crash/

Plainridge Park casino fined $10,000 for alcohol violations

By Dan Glaun  
Follow on Twitter 
on August 08, 2016

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has fined Plainville's Plainridge Park Casino $10,000 for violating alcohol regulations.

The casino, which is run by Penn National Gaming, was the subject of random and unannounced compliance checks by the gaming commission's Investigations and Enforcement Bureau in April and May.

During those checks, investigators recorded violations of alcohol storage requirements and service limits, the gaming commission said in a press release.

"During the period of April 19, 2016 to May 8, 2016, gaming agents observed seven incidents of noncompliance pertaining to alcohol storage requirements involving unsecured doors to refrigerators containing alcohol," the commission said. "During the period of April 24, 2016 to May 7, 2016, IEB gaming agents observed 13 incidents of noncompliance regarding alcohol distribution. In these instances, gaming agents observed the delivery of more than two drinks to an individual patron at a time, which is contrary to regulations adopted by the Gaming Commission."

Plainridge Park waived its right to a hearing and took steps to address the violations, including new training, signage at each casino bar explaining the rules, the termination of an employee, disciplinary talks with other employees and increased managerial oversight.

"Plainridge Park Casino is committed to responsible beverage service," Plainridge Park Casino Vice President and General Manager Lance George said in a statement. "We take full responsibility for the infractions and have taken proactive steps to remedy these types of unfortunate occurrences in the future." 

Plainridge Park, which celebrated its one-year anniversary in June, pays 49 percent of its gambling revenue in taxes and has paid $81.9 million into the state coffers as of July.

It is in competition with the Twin River Casino just 11 miles away across the Rhode Island Border and has faced questions about its financial performance since state officials slashed their expectation for the gaming facility after its launch in June 2015.

The state initially expected to take in $105 million per year in tax revenues. With slots intake not meeting targets, that projection was lowered to $83 million.

But both Plainridge Park and gaming commissioner chairman Steven Crosby are sanguine about the casino's economic performance.

"I don't know anything about their internal arithmetic, but I know that they are generating more revenue per machine than most of the other casino launches in the last one or two decades," Crosby told MassLive last month. "So they're doing very well by industry standards. So I'm sure they're doing well, too."

Revenues have plateaued or dropped in recent months but are up since a low of $11.3 million in gross revenue in December. Gross gaming revenue for the casino fell to $12.3 million in June, after seeing $13.5 million in May.

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/08/plainridge_park_casino_fined_1.html

Plainridge Park Slot Barn soft opening dazzles invitation-only crowd

Plainridge Park Casino soft opening dazzles invitation-only crowd

Show girls Xaviera Lysa, left, and Danielle Ringler welcome guests to Plainridge Park Casino’s soft opening Monday which was for invited guests only. The grand opening is Wednesday. To see a gallery of Monday’s opening, visit www.thesunchronicle.com/gallery/staff.

Posted: Monday, June 22, 2015 

BY JIM HAND SUN CHRONICLE STAFF 

PLAINVILLE - As Gaming Commissioner James McHugh looked over a soft opening of Plainridge Park Casino, he explained that Massachusetts has the most restrictive gambling law in the country.

More casino profits will go into treatment and prevention of gambling addiction than in other states. Slot machines can warn customers when they hit a self-imposed spending limit. There are no free alcoholic drinks. Taxes are higher.

And, McHugh said, there will be no smoking allowed inside Plainridge or other casinos being developed in Massachusetts.

He said the ban is a public health restriction almost no other state has.

"We have more restrictions on what goes on here," he said.

The smoking-ban was a controversial move when the Legislature wrote it into a 2011 bill allowing one slot machine parlor and three full-fledged casinos.

Critics, such as state Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole, said it would put Massachusetts at a competitive disadvantage and cause smokers to go to Rhode Island or Connecticut to gamble.

But, at the invitation-only soft opening Monday for the first of those gambling venues, some customers said they like the smoking ban.

The smoke can be so thick in out-of-state casinos they have visited that it becomes uncomfortable.

"I like that it's closer to home and there is no smoking,"George Pride of Norwell said.

"Twin River is too smoky," he said of the casino in Rhode Island.

"I like that there is no smoking. I'd rather not have smoking," said another customer who asked that he not be identified.

Customers said Plainridge made a good first impression on the trial run for Wednesday's official opening, when it will become the first expanded gambling facility in the state.

The machines are new, the facility is comfortable, there is ample nearby parking in the garage and its location in Plainville off Route 1 is convenient, visitors said.

The facility is a jolt to the senses. The music is loud, the slot machines ring and flash lights constantly, and the carpeting looks like the inside of a lava lamp with a swirl of bright red, yellow and blue.

Monday, Plainridge featured Las Vegas-style showgirls with 3-foot-high feathered headsets. There were men in athletic gear painted bronze and posing like sports statues.

But, the main attraction is the 1,250 slot machines and handful of video table games such as poker, blackjack and roulette. The table games were mostly ignored Monday afternoon, with the vast majority of the action going to the slot machines.

The slot machines are various themes to attract customers, while the electronic table games feature videos of busty women in low-cut dresses dealing the cards.

There is a Flutie's Sports Bar featuring memorabilia from football star Doug Flutie's career, a seafood restaurant and a food court with pizza, hamburgers and other fast food.

Live bands play in the Revolution Lounge.

There were some complaints about long waits for food service, but McHugh and the customers said Plainridge made a positive first impression.

"It's a vibrant, well-organized, energetic place," McHugh said.

"It's really nice," said Sue Siekiera of Pawtucket, adding that she favors it over the casinos she has been to in Connecticut and Atlantic City.

"I like the way it is set up," Pride said.

Wednesday, Plainridge opens for real. It will also stay open 24 hours a day.

But, in one more restriction unique to Massachusetts, there will be no alcoholic drinks allowed after 1 a.m.

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/plainridge-park-casino-soft-opening-dazzles-invitation-only-crowd/article_330e98bf-5acb-5942-ab30-ceda72c308e7.html

Pennsylvania: 24 Hours Alcohol? Huh? Budget shortfall opens door for more gambling and more failed fiscal policy

Budget shortfall opens door for more gambling

A gambler plays a slot machine at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. A raft of new options could put casino-like gambling in towns across the state were introduced this week, including slot machines at satellite locations. (Emily Robson, MORNING CALL FILE PHOTO)

With Pennsylvania facing a $2.3 billion budget shortfall, some legislators think they have a proven method to help close it: more gambling.

That is, except one. Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem President Mark Juliano was the lone casino executive to denounce most of the proposed expansion, arguing it would only cannibalize the $3 billion-a-year industry the state has built with its 12 casinos.

The new proposals, if adopted, would represent a massive expansion of the state's gambling laws. One bill introduced Wednesday in the Senate would allow existing casinos, for onetime licensing fees of up to $10 million, to offer Internet gambling, open satellite locations with 250 slot machines and place slot machines at off-track betting facilities.

A separate bill in the House would make almost any tavern or restaurant with a liquor license eligible for up to five video gaming terminals, potentially putting slot-machine-like gambling in hundreds of locations statewide.

Another proposal would allow slot machines at international airports, including Lehigh Valley International.

All of it would be a mistake, Juliano testified this week before the Senate Committee on Community, Economic and Recreational Development.

"Today, proposals are being considered which will erode the successful progress we have made in Pennsylvania," Juliano said. "Approving Internet gambling, slots at OTB's and VGT's will only hurt the business that many in Harrisburg say they want to help."

But Juliano was largely alone in condemning most of the new gambling options. Though none of the casino executives wants video gambling in taverns, most supported Internet gambling statewide so long as the tax rate is low and it's controlled by existing casino operators. Some of the horse racing casinos also supported placing slot machines at off-track betting facilities.

"Penn National firmly believes that I-gaming is a vital tool to enable Pennsylvania's gaming industry to continue to evolve and protect what has been built here," said Eric Shippers Sr., an executive with Penn National Gaming Inc., which runs the Hollywood Casino in Grantville, Dauphin County. "The advent of intense competition in every direction, however, necessitates that the commonwealth and the industry do things differently."

Every casino, including the Sands, agreed on a few proposed concepts. They all want the ability to serve alcohol 24 hours a day, eliminating the current restriction that stops the flow between 2 and 7 a.m. And they agreed that tax credits should be offered to casinos willing to invest in development, such as a hotel, that would help draw patrons from out of state.

The flurry of new gambling proposals comes as legislators spar with Gov. Tom Wolf over his $33.8 billion budget that relies heavily on new or higher taxes on everything from cigarettes to personal income. Many of the gambling proposals have been rejected before but are back again because legislators see them as preferable to raising taxes.

The Senate bill would offer casinos a menu of new options they'd have to pay hefty licensing fees to get. For $5 million, they could serve alcohol non-stop. Another $5 million would enable some to place 250 slot machines in off-track betting facilities, and they'd even get a chance to open satellite slot facilities within 20 miles of their casinos. As many as two additional satellites could include 250 slot machines each, provided the casino pays a $5 million fee for each new facility.

For $10 million, casinos would be licensed to operate online gambling, in which state residents would play online through a casino website, so long as they initially registered their new account at the casino. The state would not only get all the licensing fees, but it would then be able to tax all the gambling created by the new offerings.

While options such as unending alcohol service are attractive to casinos, there's a real question about whether casinos are willing to pay those fees.

"Definitely, 24-hour alcohol service would be an enhancement for us," said Mike Bean, CEO at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, near Wilkes-Barre. "But I'm not sure we'd be willing to pay a $5 million fee for it."

A separate House bill would allow taverns and restaurants with liquor licenses to buy an additional license to operate up to five video gaming terminals, which are not slot machines but offer similar gambling games.

Muhlenberg College political science professor Chris Borick said there's probably never been a better time to trot out a concept that failed before.

"The need for revenue is a powerful force," Borick said. "When the money is short, the move toward more gambling becomes much more likely."

Borick added that, in Harrisburg, it usually takes more than one viewing for a proposal to gain support. Internet gambling, for example, got little traction last year but appears to be picking up momentum now. However, video gaming terminals in taverns would appear to be where Internet gambling was years ago.

It might all come down to one thing: How desperate are legislators to avoid Wolf's proposed tax increases?


http://www.mcall.com/news/mc-pa-gambling-expansion-20150611-story.html

10 Tricks Casinos Use On You

10 Tricks Casinos Use On You

Casinos are a psychological minefield. Their architectural design, as well as everything in it, has a methodical function devised to keep you, the player, inside spending your money. Some tactics they use are as conspicuous as the nose on your face, while others are guile and subtle. However, they all play on the players’ psyche and make them feel comfortable, wanted, and most of all, optimistic. Following are ten maneuvers casinos use that keep them rolling in our money.

10

No Clocks

It’s surprising that a lot of people really don’t wear watches. Casinos know this and aren’t about to assist people in keeping them punctual. It’s a fact that when someone is engaged in an activity time seemingly drifts by at a faster pace for them, and you will rarely see humans more engaged than in a casino. Whether it be at a slot machine, table game, or poker table, most are in a trance-like state while chasing their dreams. With no clocks adorning casino walls it is not difficult to simply let time slip away deep into the night without a care in the world. Don’t expect to get the time from dealers either since they are told not to wear watches for this very reason.

Day melds into night and night into day and schedules dissolve into nothingness. Add that to the fact that if you’re in a casino you are most likely on vacation, and that contributes to the indifferent attitude you may have about sticking to your standard routine and spend more time than you had planned repeatedly slapping dollar bills down. Some casinos, likes those in the UK, have passed laws saying that players must be aware of how much time they have spent gambling, and the casino must encourage taking breaks from playing.

9

No Windows

In most casinos there may be windows near the entrance or exit, but once you get inside the belly of the beast you will be hard up to see any. This tactic goes hand-in-hand with having no clocks. When they get you in, they don’t want you to have any inkling of what is occurring in the outside world. If you were to see it getting dark outside, or even getting light with the dawn, your internal clock would kick in and tell you it’s time to move on and do something else, like go to sleep. However, this will tear you away from gambling and the casino can’t have that. In addition, they don’t want you to see anything remotely interesting happening outside. If you’re playing in a casino on the Las Vegas strip, there is enough visual stimulation outside to draw anyone’s eye to it. Therefore, the casino you are in will do its best to make that outside world nonexistent.

8

Lights, Sounds and Activity

A casino is a cacophony of wonderful and alluring stimulation: bells ringing, siren-like lights flashing, change clanging, slot wheels whirring, digital sounds beeping – it’s all captivating. Why is it captivating? Because it’s non-verbal communication saying, “Win! Win! Win!”. It gives the impression that everyone is indeed winning when, in reality, most are losing.
However, even as these people are losing, whatever machine they are on is still blaring out festive, euphoric sounds. It makes people want to get in on the action and become part of the winning as well. It’s such a happy place, how can I lose?! Everything is slick, burnished, and gleaming with a hypnotic draw to it. On some level, everyone, regardless if they are a big or small bettor, is attracted to these ostentatious displays of excess and flamboyance.

7

Ambience

Ever notice how the lighting in a casino is low and mellow? This is to give it a homey, friendly feel, kind of like sitting on your couch in your living room at home – and who wants to get off of their comfortable couch? Harsh lighting can be grating to the eyes, but a more subdued motif allows gamblers to settle in, kick back, and enjoy themselves while feeling safe, secure, and cozy.
Also, the carpeting in casinos isn’t just picked out randomly. Many may say that the patterns and designs on these carpets are downright tacky, with colorful swirls, lines, and splashes being the norm. However, to the human brain they are mesmerizing, welcoming and pleasing to the eye. In addition, the color of the walls is often times red which studies say evokes a safe, comfortable feeling.
And like shopping malls and stores, the soundtracks played at casinos are always soft, easing, and mollifying which helps get the gambler in the trance-like state that is desired.
Related to this category is the cleanliness of casinos. Any reputable one will be spotless with no clutter or waste in sight. Workers continually sweep and pick up after players which makes them feel somewhat pampered and catered to, as well as gives them a pleasing environment in which they want to stay.

6

Location of Services

If you want to use the restroom, get something to eat, or cash out your chips, you must burrow yourself deeper into the bowels of the casino. Often, these services are wedged as far back as possible. This is a last-ditch effort to keep you inside since you have to walk through the whole place again and pass all of those tempting machines and tables. You have just cashed in your winnings and perhaps you may want to try your luck one last time before leaving. It’s the same principle stores use in hopes of getting a customer to make that last impulse buy during that long walk to the exit.
In larger casino/hotels, the casino is buried deep inside the building itself. Taking various escalators, stairs, etc. is the only way to get to and from it and is one way to keep you on the property.

5

Near Wins

Next to actually winning, nothing gets your adrenaline pumping like nearly winning and the realization that you almost took money from the casino. But if casinos gave out money to everyone who almost won, they would be broke after one day. Every game, whether it be a table or machine, is designed to payout small wins in the short run, but eventually take more from you in the long run. Slot machines constantly make small payouts while perpetually being one cherry or star away from the big jackpot. Players always win hands at blackjack which gives them the impression that the game is winnable, but the house edge is always grinding away at their bankroll and their money slowly dissipates.
Other games give the gambler a feeling of “control” such as craps or keno. Here, the player has a direct influence on the outcome, such as throwing the dice or picking their own numbers. This is yet another ploy that gives the player a false sense that they can beat a game and therefore will cause them to play longer.
Basically, players overestimate their chances and probability of winning. Near wins are what essentially keep casinos in business. Giving players a taste of winning will almost always guarantee that they visit again.

4

Freebies

Free or reduced services, otherwise known as comps, are another lifeblood of the casino. Players will often receive coupons for free meals, buffets, shows, etc., or point cards which enable them to win other prizes in order to get them to keep coming back. It makes them feel important, even if they are low rollers and don’t gamble substantial sums of money. Even if they lose, they still feel as if they have gained something and are more likely to return. They are important to the casinos because the vast majority of money made comes from these smaller gamblers, so their business is even more coveted than the high rollers’.

Are they simply being good hosts to their patrons? Not really. It’s all calculated to keep them there so they play more and longer. Whatever casinos give out in comps, they make back hundreds-fold from the same people. It’s sort of like persuading a child to behave well in exchange for a cheap toy.

3

Alcohol

This could have gone under the freebies category but deserves to be discussed independently. It’s as obvious and transparent a trick as freebies but may be the most powerful. Free drinks work on a couple of levels. First, they’re FREE. Unless you’re a teetotaler, who doesn’t love free drinks? Cocktail waitresses swarm the casino floor, their trays full of various drinks at all times. It’s no secret why this would keep a player put, satisfied, and feeling cheerful.

Next, alcohol makes even smart players sloppy. If you’re a player who uses basic strategy in blackjack, alcohol will slow your brain therefore corrupting your ability to make the proper decisions. Gamblers will also become more liberal with their money if buzzed or drunk, throwing their chips around like they’re nothing more than the pieces of clay that they are. To many, sucking down free drinks while playing enjoyable games is pretty much as good as it gets.

2

Keeping the Big Winners

Although small bettors are important, casinos surely want to keep the high rollers as well. Those fortunate enough to win big are treated like kings. They basically make these players offers they cannot refuse, from free suites to extravagant, special treatment. The longer a big winner lingers inside the casino/hotel, the more money they will inevitably spend there. The casino may lose money giving away a free suite or room, but by keeping that person there they can make it back in the casino; the house edge ensures that.
Players feel like they are treated like royalty because they are important, yet it’s their MONEY that is important. In addition to keeping the money there, casinos are also gaining free advertising and marketing when other high rollers learn how they will be treated at that particular establishment. Pandering to big winners is so crucial for casinos that a large part of their resources, from VIP hosts to limousines, is dedicated to it.

1

Labyrinth Design

Casinos are essentially giant mazes that are intentionally set up for you to literally get lost in. A sea of machines and tables create obstacles and barriers that keep the player from leaving. There is no logical arrangement; a bank of slot machines may be in one location, then another bank of the exact same machines will be 200 feet away. Confusion is the end result. You know the exit was near the video poker machines, but which set of video poker machines?

Nooks and crannies abound with various twists and turns. This plays on the common mental error people make when they mistakenly believe that if they walk in along a certain path, they can easily turn around and walk out the same way. However, the path leading out is unfamiliar because visually it is completely different. The tall slot machines which make up most of the floor layout also hinder people from seeing far which further disorients them. Moreover, more modern casinos have lower ceilings which prevent someone from seeing any landmarks on the walls or ceiling in the distance that may help orient them, but instead keep them hemmed in. For many, especially those who have been imbibing alcohol, finding their way out is like participating in one, large, interactive brain teaser.

Jamie FraterJamie is the founder of Listverse. He spends his time working on the site, doing research for new lists, and cooking. He is fascinated with all things morbid and bizarre.
Read More: Twitter Faceboo


http://listverse.com/2010/02/09/10-tricks-casinos-use-on-you/

 

The Quora Column | 20 September 2013

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

What Las Vegas casinos won’t tell you about gambling

 

(John Howard/Getty)

With a motto like “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”, it is no surprise that Sin City has it fair share of secrets, especially when it comes to winning on the casino floor. That said, a few savvy travellers on question-and-answer site Quora.com were brave enough to break the code of silence and share a few things that casinos will not tell you about gambling in Las Vegas.

Drinking alcohol is a sure way to lose
Though many travellers might count the free booze as a perk of gambling in Vegas, plying players with drinks is clear house strategy. “Unless you’re some kind of alcoholic prodigy, your alcohol intake is going to impair your judgement and perceptions,” said Jon Mixon, who grew up in Nevada. “If you want to win, you’ll need to be a teetotaller.”

Every game has a house edge, save one
Quora answerers reiterated over and over again that the house has an edge on every game – but they vary by type. Users Ilya Veygman, a software engineer in Menlo Park, California, and Jenn Tseng, a hotel operations professional in Las Vegas, agreed that roulette has by far the worst odds of the popular table games. While the generally accepted house edge is 5% for a double-zero roulette wheel, 1.4 % for the pass line in craps (the game’s standard bet) and only 0.28% for blackjack, Mixon mentioned that the smaller casinos in Vegas might have slightly better odds, as they cannot afford to retain the best dealers.

As for the game with the best odds, Don Dawson, a Las Vegas resident, suggested live poker. “All other games favour the house. It’s the only game where the casino does not take money directly from the player,” he said. “It is strictly up to you and your skill on how much you win or lose.”

You must play “max bet” on slots to win big
“If you play slots, there’s no point playing the lowest bet,” said Tseng. “Max bet = max win.” The maximum bet is usually two or three times the advertised price; for example, the maximum bet on a 25 cent machine will usually be 50 or 75 cents.

Casinos are built to disorient
It can be a challenge to find your way out of a casino once you find your way in. “Casino floors are labyrinthine by design,” said Veygman. “You get lost because you’re supposed to, then you grab a seat at a slot machine or blackjack, and voila! You drop some cash gambling.”

For the same reason, you will never see a clock in a casino. “They don’t want you to say, ‘It’s getting late. Time to turn in,’” said Garrick Saito, a Los Angeles resident. “The longer you play, the more likely it is you’ll lose.”

Win, then walk away
According to every respondent, the only real way to take home cold hard cash from Vegas is by stopping while you are ahead. “You are only going to win once or twice during your entire stay,” said Mixon. “When you do, stand up and leave. If you don’t, you’ll end up losing it all back – with interest.”

http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20130919-what-las-vegas-casinos-wont-tell-you-about-gambling

 

Gambling can be addiction and must be faced

Ellie: Gambling can be addiction and must be faced

Binge-drinker needs counselling and behaviour modification to fight gambling and alcohol addictions

A stack of poker chips can mean a little fun, or it can mean an addiction,

 

By:EllieAdvice, Published on Fri Aug 16 2013

 

I met him 18 months ago, and soon started a committed relationship.
 

He mentioned his previous history of gambling, saying it “isn’t a part of his life anymore.”

I was shocked but believed him. Months later, he’d started gambling online as his way out of crippling debt.

He said it’d be our ticket to start our lives together, buy a house, get married, and have a family.

I knew in my heart it was detrimental to our relationship and my life. However, I remained by him.

Months passed, he was binge-drinking on weekends with his friends. It embarrassed me and made me ashamed of him.

His gambling and drinking remained a secret from his loving family, whom I adored.

He broke up with me, but we re-connected a month later with nothing resolved.

Several months later — with me so neglected by his gambling and drinking — I broke up with him. We’ve communicated since, but aren’t together.

He’s informed me that he met with a financial advisor to sort out his debt, and put an action plan into place so that he can be married, buy a house, and have a family.

He’s also receiving counselling and is on a path to self-improvement and wellness. He’s more motivated and wants me to be a part of his life.

How can I trust him with my heart and my life, if we get back together?
 

It’s very revealing that you didn’t once use the word “addiction.” Until you’ve both acknowledged that specific reality — that he’s addicted to gambling and alcohol — you cannot trust him.
 

He needs to deal specifically with addiction — i.e. get counselling, with a specialist in behaviour modification, who helps him find healthy strategies for responding to whatever sets off the addictive binges.

Joining support groups with Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous would also help him acknowledge the behaviour for what it is. And spousal support groups such as Alanon would be helpful to you.

But concepts like “self-improvement” don’t cut it. He has a deep-rooted background to these addictions and you both need to understand it a lot better before planning a life together.

 

TIP OF THE DAY

Addiction has to be acknowledged before the addict and those closest can attempt to handle it.

Been So Hurt

Feeling Hopeless

Read Ellie Monday to Saturday.

http://www.thestar.com/life/2013/08/16/ellie_gambling_can_be_addiction_and_must_be_faced.html

 

 

The Palmer Boozerino!

Yup! 24/7/365!

Northeast Realty requests additional liquor licenses for Palmer property
By Lori Stabile, The RepublicanThe Republican
on July

Northeast Realty requests additional liquor licenses for Palmer property

Mohegan Sun releases four traffic options for proposed $1 billion resort casino in Palmer

Massachusetts State Police: Camper trailer rollover causing delays on Massachusetts Turnpike in Palmer

Palmer town councilor wants details on Mohegan Sun's traffic plans for proposed casino; Mohegan Sun says details will be released Wednesday

Palmer Town Council suspends balloon test for proposed casino hotel

PALMER — Northeast Realty has asked for additional liquor licenses as part of its development along Thorndike Street (Route 32) near Mohegan Sun's proposed resort casino site.

Town Council President Philip J. Hebert acknowledged the letter from Northeast Realty's lawyer, Stephen E. Spelman, at Monday's Town Council meeting.

The letter asks for two additional liquor licenses for phase 1 of its development project at Thorndike and Shearer streets, also known as the "triangle" area, and four additional liquor licenses as part of phase 2 of the project, which includes creating a lifestyle center on property adjoining the casino site.
Northeast is leasing 152 acres to Mohegan for the casino project.

Executive Assistant Andrew Golas said there are 38 liquor licenses in town – 20 for restaurants and bars and 18 for package stores. Town Manager Charles T. Blanchard said he believes the town is at its maximum for liquor licenses; the Legislature must be petitioned before additional licenses can be awarded.

Blanchard said the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission has been contacted to find out what the process is for granting additional licenses. He said this was done out of courtesy.

"We want to find out if we ever have an option to increase the number of licenses," Blanchard said.

"We're just looking into the situation. We're not saying we agree."

James L. St. Amand, Northeast's community liaison, said, "We want to be in a position to have economic development with or without a casino."

Leon Dragone

Northeast is in partnership with Cardinal's View of Grove Street, Worcester, for this development. Cardinal's View lists its resident agent as Thomas Cunningham and managers as Leon H. Dragone and Jeffrey E. Cunningham, according to filings with the Secretary of State's office. Dragone is the manager of Northeast Realty.

The former icehouse property on Shearer Street, targeted as part of Northeast's development, is owned by Cunningham Equities, according to town of Palmer property records. The head of Cunningham Equities, also based on Grove Street in Worcester, is Jeffrey Cunningham. Dragone said he owns a 50 percent stake in the old Rondeau property. Previously, the property was owned by another Cunningham business venture, KSJ Realty.

Dragone said Cunningham refurbished the HPAC building at 306 Race St., Holyoke, which is being used by the Sisters of Providence Health System, and also developed 18 units known as Cardinal's Ridge in Worcester.

Northeast is calling the development of this area "The Gateway to Western Massachusetts" and has announced plans for a Pride gas station and convenience store there, as well as restaurants and a medical office building. That development will take place on 20 acres abutting the turnpike exit 8.

Northeast also owns an additional 110 acres next to the casino site that it plans to develop as part of phase 2 of its project - that development will include a lifestyle center with a mixture of indoor and outdoor attractions, as well as retail shops and an outdoor skating rink. Dragone has said it will resemble "Downtown Disney."

The map below shows Thorndike and Shearer streets, also known as the "triangle" area, where Northeast Realty has asked for two additional liquor licenses for phase 1 of its development project near the proposed Mohegan Sun Massachusetts casino:


View Larger Map


http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/07/northeast_realty_requests_addi.html

 

...increased crime and alcohol, drug and gambling abuse...

Kitzhaber against tribal casino in Medford

Published 8:24 am, Tuesday, May 7, 2013

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — Gov. John Kitzhaber has asked the federal government to reject a proposal by an Oregon tribe to start a casino in Medford.

 

An expansion of casino gambling raises concerns such as increased crime and alcohol, drug and gambling abuse, he said Monday in letters to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

 

He also said the proposal from the Coquille Indian Tribe violates an agreement that limits casinos to one per tribe. There are nine tribal casinos in the state.

 

"I do not believe that expansion of casinos is good for Oregon, and to safeguard against an unprecedented expansion of gambling in this state, it should be of no surprise that I oppose this application," Kitzhaber wrote to Stan Speaks, northwest regional director of the bureau.

 

The Coquille tribe has a casino in North Bend in Coos County.

 

It has bought a Medford bowling alley and a restaurant building and asked the bureau to put the land in a trust, a step toward reservation status, the Medford Mail Tribune (http://bit.ly/108HjuF ) reported.

 

The casino would offer video gambling but not table games. The tribe also has agreed to lease an adjacent golf course.

 

Kitzhaber said concerns raised by both Jackson County and the city of Medford went into his thinking.

 

A tribal spokesman, Ray Doering, said Kitzhaber's opposition was disappointing but not surprising.

The one-per-tribe policy dates to 1997 and was to last for five years, Doering said. "That period has long since ended," he said.

 

He said communities take a few years to warm up to the introduction of gambling.

 

"Never has the first introduction of gaming into a community been embraced," he said.

 

The Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians operates a casino in Canyonville, 70 miles north of Medford, and also opposes the Coquilles' proposal as an opening to a "casino arms race."

___

Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Kitzhaber-against-tribal-casino-in-Medford-4495126.php#ixzz2ShK5aWyl