No Progress In Tropicana Union Talks

Las Vegas Gaming WireLAS VEGAS, Nevada — A 5 1/2-hour meeting Monday failed to produce significant movement in contract talks between the Tropicana and Culinary union, union and company officials said Tuesday.While the parties are far apart on many core issues, neither side has discussed a date for canceling the current contract or for a strike.

Tropicana’s lead negotiator, Mark Ricciardi, a local labor attorney, said Culinary Local 226 and Bartenders Local 165 have yet to present a formal counter to a proposal the property made in December.

Culinary Secretary-Treasurer D. Taylor said the negotiating committee is still working through the proposal.

“We’ve been going through, in detail, their proposal,” Taylor said. “They’ve put in a lot of different stuff we don’t understand at all. They have to justify and explain it. It’s a slow process because there’s so much.”

The union wants clarification on many parts of the proposal, including sections dealing with guaranteed work weeks, definitions of shifts, and the use of part-time workers and subcontractors.

The Tropicana also wants to replace the union’s health plan and pension plan.

While the union examine the proposal, it has suggested some language changes on some noneconmic issues that the property has accepted, Ricciardi said.

“We have made significant modifications to our proposal based upon the talks,” Ricciardi said. “(Monday) they asked a lot of questions and had a lot of comments about our proposed language.”

The talks came at the end of a contentious week, with the sides using local media to exchange allegations of misconduct.

The 50-year-old property is the last Strip hotel-casino without a new contract for Culinary union workers. Nearly 750 workers have been working on extended contracts since the previous agreement expired May 31.

Monday was the fourth time the two sides have met since August. They will meet again Feb. 28.

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Know what your getting with google adwords

Before spending money on google adwords know what your getting. Are your ads going to be approved? Check your keywords are they going to pass google submission? Will your key words be approved? Lets say your site sells supplies and accessories for blackjack, well guess what? Your keyword blackjack is going to be denied.

Now you can use key words for the accessories like tables, lights, chips, cards. The problem here is what kind of visitors are you going to be paying for?

Does your headline pass muster with google adwords?
We will use the blackjack example above… Your headline for that type of website might be something like Blackjack Supplies and accessories. You guessed it, blackjack is going to be denied. So once again you are not getting the right kind of visitors to your website for the money you are paying.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
If you’re getting any visitors from the headline that google would approve … it would have to be something like this, Tables, lights, supplies, accessories… once again the searcher is left scratching their head wondering just what kind of tables lights supplies accessories are being offered. I personally will not click a link that is vague I just dont have time to go to webpages that have nothing to do with what I am actually searching for.

So in conclusion spend your advertising dollar wisely before spending money with google adwords or any other pay per click to advertise your wares, make sure what keywords will be approved or disqualified. You are going to have to decide are the unsuspecting visitors sent to your site through the vague pay per click google adwords would allow you to use going to get you conversions? If not, save your money!

webmaster of www.bestbjstrategies.com and ex google adwords user.

Ameristar Casinos Opens St. Charles Hotel

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Ameristar Casinos, Inc. announced today the opening of its 400-suite, luxury hotel in St. Charles, Mo. The first 100 suites will be available for occupancy this week. The Company currently expects no less than 80 to 100 additional suites will be opened to the public each month thereafter, with all suites available for occupancy this spring. The property’s 7,000-square-foot spa and indoor/outdoor pool also are scheduled for an early spring completion….. full story can be found at bestbjstrategies.com

Harrah’s Entertainment Going Private

Harrah’s Entertainment says it’s $17.1 billion acquisition closed as scheduled today.

 Harrah’s agreed in Dec 2006 to be purchased by affiliates of Texas Pacific Group and Apollog GLobal Management LP. Shareholders approved  the deal last April.

Stockholders are getting $90 in cash for each share they own.  Harrah’s shares will no longer trade on the NY Stock Exchange, Chicago Exchange and Philadelphia Stock Exchange after the market close Monday. 

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Hardrock Owners Given License

The Hard Rock Hotel’s new owners in Las Vegas, were approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission for a nonrestricted gaming license which clears the way for the company to take over casino operations a year after purchasing the property.

An expansion of the casino from 30,000 square feet to 65,000 square feet is underway and part of the $750 million property renovations that will be completed in mid 2009 if everything stays on schedule.

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Monte Carlo Fire

 According to AP News

LAS VEGAS —  Gamblers fled the casino floor as firefighters rushed up flights of stairs, but remarkably no one was seriously injured in a blaze that blackened the top floors of the 32-story Monte Carlo hotel-casino.

The 3,000-room resort was at near capacity Friday when the fire broke out midmorning, sending guests and employees onto the Las Vegas Strip where ashes and embers rained.

The blaze was contained within an hour.

The rest of the story can be found here

Las Vegas : Monte Carlo on Fire

This just in!

The Monte Carlo located in Las Vegas is on fire, check back for more details as they become available.

Regulators OK buyout of Binion’s casino

LAS VEGAS — The former home of the World Series of Poker, Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel, will once again be owned by a Las Vegas operator after Nevada regulators on … you can find the rest of the story at www.bestbjstrategies.com

Books on Blackjack

Basic Blackjack By Stanford WongOne of the most comprehensive books on basic strategy. The advice and discussion of proper play covers all rule variations.

Blackjack Take the Money & Run By Henry Tamburin Ideal for the recreational casion players that want to learn how to play in a casino and more importantly how to win. It contains three levels of playing strategies ffrom beginner , intermediate, and advanced players.

Best Blackjack By Frank ScobleteFrank shares his knowledgein a way that is easy for all to understand. This book is excellent for both the novice and experienced players.

The Blackjack Zone by Elliot Jacobson
For the player who wants to know what works and waht doesnt and why. This book will take you through basic strategy and then on to card counting and advantageplay.

Stakes high for Mount Airy Casino owner

PENNSYLVANIA — As reported by the Pennsylvania Times-Tribune: “With lifelong friend and confidant the Rev. Joseph F. Sica facing a felony charge of perjury, the stakes have never been higher for junk man turned billionaire Louis DeNaples.

“A Dauphin County grand jury is examining whether Mr. DeNaples, owner of Mount Airy Casino Resort, lied to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board when he denied having ties to organized crime. Rumors of such ties have dogged the Dunmore businessman for decades.

“In pursuing the case against Mr. DeNaples, the Dauphin County district attorney alleges the Catholic priest lied about his own relationship with the late mob boss Russell Bufalino.

“The prosecutor says others who testified before the grand jury may be charged, leading many to speculate whether Assistant District Attorney Francis Chardo is preparing to charge Mr. DeNaples.

“Such a charge — even if it didn’t result in a conviction — could lead to the suspension of the slots license that keeps wagers flowing at Mount Airy, the state’s first stand-alone casino. Mr. DeNaples staked his reputation and a good chunk of his fortune on the $415 million resort. Even a temporary suspension would seriously disrupt the business.

“…It is difficult to pinpoint when Mr. DeNaples’ name first became associated with organized crime.

“He has never been charged with organized crime activity, but Italian-American businessmen, regardless of whom they associate with, traditionally have found the mafioso stereotype hard to shake…”

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