Casino Regulatory Manual for Clark Special Economic Zone Licensees

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Casino Regulatory Manual for Clark Special Economic Zone Licensees PHILIPPINE AMUSEMENT AND GAMING CORPORATION CASINO REGULATORY MANUAL FOR CLARK SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE LICENSEES Version 2.0 January 2016 Compiled By: GAMING LICENSING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT Ma. Perpetua Theresa G. Flor Edwin D. Mendoza Rashere Ann P. Beriña Template Forms prepared by: Garry B. Evangelista Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement Department CASINO REGULAT ORY MANUAL FOR CLARK LICENSEES Ve r s i o n 2 .0 This page is intentionally left blank - 2 - CASINO REGULAT ORY MANUAL FOR CLARK LICENSEES Ve r s i o n 2 .0 FOREWORD PAGCOR‘s regulatory role is essential to the vision of the country taking a place among the world‘s top gaming jurisdictions. In principle, PAGCOR aims to: Ensure a level playing field among industry proponents; Maintain an orderly and predictable regulatory environment; Enforce license terms and conditions; Promote fairness and integrity in the conduct of games; Provide an underlying platform for responsible gambling; Disallow access to gaming venues by minors and financially vulnerable persons; and, Prevent licensed gaming venues from being used for illegal activities. Regulations and standards must be formulated in order to meet these objectives. Mature gaming jurisdictions around the world, especially those from the North American and Asian continents, appear to be appropriate models to emulate. Relevant regulations and standards from New Jersey, Nevada and Singapore were adapted to fit in Philippine setting. Moreover, all PAGCOR licensees were consulted in the preparation of this Casino Regulatory Manual. This Casino Regulatory Manual shall be read in conjunction with and is intended to supplement the Provisional License and Authority to Operate. - 3 - CASINO REGULAT ORY MANUAL FOR CLARK LICENSEES Ve r s i o n 2 .0 TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword Regulation 1 – Definition of Terms Definition of Terms ......................................................................................................................... 17 Regulation 2 – Casino Layout Section 1. Maximum Gaming Area .............................................................................................. 39 Section 2. Designation of Gaming Areas ..................................................................................... 40 Section 3. Gaming Mix Ratios ...................................................................................................... 40 Section 4. Gaming Area to be Unobstructed ............................................................................... 40 Section 5. Card Shuffling Center .................................................................................................. 40 Section 6. Submission of Casino Layout Plan .............................................................................. 40 Section 7. Change to Casino Layout............................................................................................. 41 Section 8. Power to give directions or take disciplinary action ................................................... 42 Section 9. Duty of licensed gaming employee in relation to Casino Layout ............................... 43 Section 10. Minimum hotel room capacity required prior to issuance of Notice to Commence Casino Operations .................................................................... 44 Section 11. Gaming Capacity ......................................................................................................... 44 Regulation 3 – Gaming Tables Section 1. New or additional gaming tables ............................................................................... 46 Section 2. Gaming Table Relocation .......................................................................................... ..47 Section 3. Gaming Table Mix Ratio .............................................................................................. 48 Section 4. Gaming Tables Location .............................................................................................. 49 Section 5. Re-designation of a Gaming Table .............................................................................. 49 Section 6. Eligible Players ............................................................................................................ 49 Section 7. Authorized Currencies ................................................................................................ 50 Section 8. Table Limits ................................................................................................................. 50 Section 9. Authorized Casino Table Games ................................................................................. 51 Section 10. Table Game Rules and Mechanics .............................................................................. 52 - 4 - CASINO REGULAT ORY MANUAL FOR CLARK LICENSEES Ve r s i o n 2 .0 Section 11. Gaming Table Layouts subject to PAGCOR approval .................................................. 52 Section 12. Minimum requirements for Gaming Tables and Gaming Table Layouts .................... 52 (a) Blackjack ..................................................................................................................... 52 (b) Baccarat ...................................................................................................................... 55 (c) Roulette ...................................................................................................................... 56 (d) Pai-gow poker ............................................................................................................. 59 (e) Carribean stud poker .................................................................................................. 61 (f) Casino War .................................................................................................................. 63 (g) Pontoon ...................................................................................................................... 64 (h) Craps and Mini-craps .................................................................................................. 65 (i) Sic Bo/Big and Small .................................................................................................... 67 (j) Poker (Player-to-Player) .............................................................................................. 69 Section 13. Table Game Conversion .............................................................................................. 69 Section 14. Gaming Table Swapping .............................................................................................. 70 Section 15. Free Hands .................................................................................................................. 70 Section 16. Progressive Wagering ................................................................................................. 70 (a) Table Game Progressive Wagering Systems ............................................................... 70 (b) Poker Progressive Jackpots ......................................................................................... 71 (c) Cessation of Progressive Jackpots ............................................................................. 77 Section 17. Baccarat Tournaments ................................................................................................ 78 (a) Promotional Baccarat Tournaments ........................................................................... 78 (b) Regular Baccarat Tournaments ................................................................................... 79 Section 18. Increase or Decrease in Table Capital ........................................................................ 81 Section 19. Poker Room Tables .................................................................................................... 81 Section 20. Poker Tournaments .................................................................................................... 81 Regulation 4 – Electronic Gaming Machines Part I – General Provisions Section 1. Electronic Gaming Machines Ratio ............................................................................. 84 Section 2. Electronic Gaming Machines to comply with technical standards and other requirements.............................................................................................. 85 Section 3. Minimum Return-to-Player Percentage ..................................................................... 87 Section 4. Odds, Payouts and House Advantage ......................................................................... 88 Section 5. Modification of Electronic Gaming Machines............................................................. 89 - 5 - CASINO REGULAT ORY MANUAL FOR CLARK LICENSEES Ve r s i o n 2 .0 Section 6. Revocation of Approval of Electronic Gaming Machines ........................................... 92 Section 7. Duty of Licensee in relation to Electronic Gaming Machines ..................................... 92 Section 8. Final Tax on Player’s Winnings from Electronic Gaming Machines ............................ 93 Section 9. Stock Inventory Level for Electronic Gaming Machines ............................................. 93 Section 10. Movement of Electronic Gaming Machines in the Gaming Area ............................... 93 Section 11. Electronic Gaming Machine Tournament .................................................................. 93 Part II - Linked Jackpots Section 1. Details of
Recommended publications
  • The Look of Casinos to Come China's Wild Lottery Ride Macau's VIP Rooms Firing Customers
    Aug-Sep 2006 • MOP 30 The Look of Casinos to Come China’s Wild Lottery Ride Macau’s VIP Rooms Firing Customers Spoiled for Choice A new wave of gaming options hits Asia 6 PROVEN PERFORMERS ARISTOCRAT OFFERING 6 UNIQUE GAME PRODUCT CATEGORIES TO THE ASIAN MARKETS August-September 2006 Spoiled for Choice Page 7 ~ China’s Wild Lottery Ride Page 11 ~ Sands Macau’s7 High-Roller Push Page 12 ~ The Look11 of Casinos to Come Page 16 ~12 Macau 2Q Trends Page 22 ~ Macau’s16 VIP Market Structure Page 26 ~22 Firing Customers Page 28 ~ Tour of the Properties26 - Awash With Glamour Page 42 28~ Regional Briefs Aristocrat is proud to present the latest range of gaming products to the Asian Markets and your gaming floor. Page 44 ~ International Briefs Create the perfect balance and gaming mix from our Reel Power™, Multiline™ and 50 Line™ game varieties and 42 progress your players to the exciting world of links with Double Standalone Progresives™ ( DSAP). Aristocrat also offers the latest in Mystery Linked and Linked Progressive gaming packages with Xtreme Mystery solutions and Page 47 ~ Singapore’s Example44 for the Global Gaming Industry the patented Hyperlink™ product to the Asian Markets. 47 For further information please contact the Aristocrat (Macau) Office Telephone: +853 722 777 • Fax: +853 722 783 • Web: www.aristocratgaming.com © 2006 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited. Aristocrat, it’s all in the game, game names and the Aristocrat logo are trade marks or registered trade marks of Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited. AS06AD02 AS06AD02-Game categories cover a1 1 20/7/06 10:01:45 AM IAG ad 7/25/06 4:01 PM Page 1 Editorial Global Vision.
    [Show full text]
  • Table of Contents
    Table of Contents Introduction ....................................................................1 1. Basic Strategy .................................................................5 2. How the Game Has Changed ....................................10 3. Choosing Your Count—The “KISS” Principle .........19 4. Psychological Profile of a Winning High-Stakes Player ......................................27 5. The High Roller ............................................................42 6. Your P&L Statement—Penetration and Longevity ..............................................................56 7. The Ultimate Gambit with Stanford Wong .............79 8. Crazy Surrender .........................................................105 9. For Green-Chip Players ............................................ 117 10. Blackjack Debates ......................................................135 11. Amazing and Amusing Incidents (All True) .........153 12. On Guises and Disguises ..........................................166 13. Psychological Aspects of the Game ........................178 Burning the taBles in las Vegas 14. Understanding Casino Thinking .............................198 15. Tips & Tipoffs .............................................................218 16. Managing Risk ...........................................................266 17. International Play ......................................................275 18. On Maintaining Physical and Mental Fitness .......291 19. Epilogue ......................................................................313
    [Show full text]
  • The Ultimate Counting Method
    THE ULTIMATE COUNTING METHOD The total efficacy of a Blackjack count depends on its correlation with (1) the true advantage or disadvantage of the remaining cards in the deck(s) for betting purposes and (2) the playing efficiency that it provides. Unfortunately, a count that does (1) well does not do (2) as well, and vice versa.. I had started out with the simple HI-LO count (23456+1, TJQKA-1) but wanted to look for something better. Counts are described by how many “levels” they comprise. A count that gives all cards either a 0, 1, or -1 value is a “level 1" count, while one that gives 0, 1, -1, 2, or - 2 values to cards is a “level 2" count, and so on. The higher the level, the greater the betting accuracy but the more difficult the counting effort becomes. Examining the count analyses for both betting and play efficiency in The Theory of Blackjack by Peter Griffin I saw that Stanford Wong’s moderately difficult “Halves” count has a betting accuracy correlation of 0.99. In whole numbers Halves counts aces and ten-cards as -2; 9 as -1; 2 and 7 as +1; 3, 4, and 6 as +2, and 5 as +5. It is more convenient, however, to divide all these numbers by two when counting, hence the name “Halves.” HI-LO’s betting correlation is 0.89 according to Griffin, so Halves is a somewhat better system for betting. Looking at the playing efficiency of Halves, which is 0.58 according to Wong, it isn’t quite as good as the HI-LO count (0.59 according to Griffin).
    [Show full text]
  • Vulnerabilities of Casinos and Gaming Sector
    The Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering Financial Action Task Force Groupe d’action financière FATF Report Vulnerabilities of Casinos and Gaming Sector March 2009 2 - © 2009 FATF/OECD and APG THE FINANCIAL ACTION TASK FORCE (FATF) The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an independent inter-governmental body that develops and promotes policies to protect the global financial system against money laundering and terrorist financing. Recommendations issued by the FATF define criminal justice and regulatory measures that should be implemented to counter this problem. These Recommendations also include international co-operation and preventive measures to be taken by financial institutions and others such as casinos, real estate dealers, lawyers and accountants. The FATF Recommendations are recognised as the global anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) standard. For more information about the FATF, please visit the website: WWW.FATF-GAFI.ORG ASIA PACIFIC GROUP ON MONEY LAUNDERING The Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) is an autonomous and collaborative international organisation founded in 1997 in Bangkok, Thailand consisting of 39 member jurisdictions and a number of international and regional observers. The member jurisdictions and observers of the APG are committed to the effective implementation and enforcement of internationally accepted standards against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, in particular the Forty Recommendations and Nine Special Recommendations on Terrorist Financing of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). For more information about the APG, please visit the website: WWW.APGML.ORG © 2009 FATF/OECD and APG. All rights reserved No reproduction or translation of this publication may be made without prior written permission.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction to 3 Easy High Roller Slots Tricks
    High Limit Slots Tricks (Winning Strategy 6) | MP, OH, OK Slots 2018 PS 35: High Limit Slots Tricks (Winning Strategy 6) | MP, OH, OK Slots 2018 Opening Hello! Today’s episode #35 of the Professor Slots podcast discusses three High Limit Slots Tricks including Winning Strategy 6. Plus, in this episode I’ll be covering the current state of slot machine casino gambling in the great U.S. territory of Northern Mariana Islands as well as the great U.S. states of Ohio and Oklahoma. Thank you for joining me for the Professor Slots podcast show. I’m Jon Friedl and this is the podcast about slot machine casino gambling. It is where I provide knowledge, insights, and tools for helping you improve your slot machine gambling performance. “Jon Friedl from The Professor Slots Blog reveals all of his tips and tricks for thriving in the casino environment. Discover how to assess casinos to pick the best near you, choose winning slot machines, and identify your gambling goals: being entertained, earning comps, winning take-home cash, or combine them. Jon has won 90 taxable jackpots and a luxury car in 9 months of slots play - and made a profit at slots gambling since 2013.” On Last Week’s Episode… In case you missed it, on last week’s episode I went over Winning Strategy 5: Winning Holiday Patterns, explaining how holidays are its own kind of special casino event to be taken advantage of from the slots player’s point of view. Also last week, I reviewed New York, North Carolina, and North Dakota slot machine casino gambling.
    [Show full text]
  • Casino Industry Currency Transaction Reporting
    Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Casino Industry Currency Transaction Reporting An Assessment of Currency Transaction Reports Filed by Casinos between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2008 December 2008 Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Table of Contents PURPOSE 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 BACKGROUND ON JUNE 2007 RULE CHANGE 4 METHODOLOGY 6 ANALYSIS OF FILING TRENDS 7 QUALITY OF CTRC REPORTING 11 CONCLUSIONS 12 APPENDIX A 13 Guidance, Rules and Recent Releases Regarding the Casino Industry APPENDIX B 14 Law Enforcement Cases Relating to the Casino Industry Casino Industry Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Purpose s part of its efforts to provide efficient and effective administration of the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”)1 the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network A (“FinCEN”) has committed to providing affected industries with written feedback within 18 months from the effective date of new regulations, or changes to existing regulations. On June 26, 2007, FinCEN issued a final rule concerning casino currency transaction reporting requirements. This report highlights key findings of an assessment conducted by FinCEN of Currency Transaction Report by Casinos (“CTRC”)2 filings from the period July 1, 2006, through June 30, 2008. FinCEN assessed CTRC filings comparing the number of reports filed in the one-year period before the BSA regulations were amended, to those filed in the one-year period after the June 26, 2007, amendment. In furtherance of FinCEN’s mission to provide beneficial information to law enforcement, regulators and regulated industries, this report indicated that the overall volume of filings for cash out transactions has decreased significantly since the regulation was amended. This report also offers insight into the quality of CTRC reporting.
    [Show full text]
  • Review and Analysis of Sports and Race Betting Inducements
    Review and analysis of sports and race betting inducements Nerilee Hinga, Kerry Sprostonb, Richard Bradinga and Kate Brookb aCentre for Gambling Education & Research, Southern Cross University bORC International October 2015 © Copyright Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, October 2015 This publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia licence. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs, branding or logos. For information on the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation Research Program visit responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au. Disclaimer: The opinions, findings and proposals contained in this report represent the views of the author and do not necessarily represent the attitudes or opinions of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation or the State of Victoria. No warranty is given as to the accuracy of the information. The Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation specifically excludes any liability for any error or inaccuracy in, or omissions from, this document and any loss or damage that you or any other person may suffer. To cite this report: Hing N., Sproston, K., Brading, R., and Brook, K. (2015) Review and analysis of sports and race betting inducements. Victoria, Australia: Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. Conflict of interest declaration Nerilee Hing has worked with Echo Entertainment, Sportsbet and Singapore Pools over the four years previous to the study. She has also received funding over the past four years from the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Gambling Research Australia, the Queensland Government and the National Association of Gambling Studies (NAGS). Kerry Sproston has received funding from Gambling Research Australia in the past four years. Richard Brading has worked with BetSafe Pty Ltd over the four years previous to the study.
    [Show full text]
  • Monaco, Las Vegas and Macau
    MONACO, LAS VEGAS AND MACAU: GAMING RESORTS OF THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science In Hospitality Management By Daniel Horowitz 2015 SIGNATURE PAGE Signature Page THESIS: MONACO, LAS VEGAS AND MACAU: GAMING RESORTS OF THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE AUTHOR: Daniel Horowitz DATE SUBMITTED: Spring 2015 The Collins College of Hospitality Management Dr. Jerald W. Chesser Thesis Committee Chair _________________________________________ Hospitality Management Dr. Edward A. Merritt _________________________________________ Hospitality Management Dr. Myong Jae Lee _________________________________________ Hospitality Management ii ABSTRACT Abstract Monaco, Las Vegas and Macau are the most significant gaming resort destinations in the world. Each location has a unique history and distinctive set of products and services tailored to the demographics of its clientele. All three destinations commensurately compete for continued financial success and global preeminence in a rapidly changing gaming resort industry. This thesis examines the history, literature, finances and atmosphere of Monaco, Las Vegas and Macau and provides valuable insights into the relationships that exist between each destination and their influence on the global hospitality industry at large. While it is commonplace to believe that Monaco is the profitable venue of the past, Las Vegas is the significant environment of the present
    [Show full text]
  • Casino Table Games Managers in Their Own Words
    UNLV Gaming Press Books UNLV Libraries 2016 Tales from the Pit: Casino Table Games Managers in Their Own Words David Schwartz University of Nevada, Las Vegas, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/gaming_press Part of the Gaming and Casino Operations Management Commons Recommended Citation Schwartz, David, "Tales from the Pit: Casino Table Games Managers in Their Own Words" (2016). UNLV Gaming Press Books. 2. https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/gaming_press/2 This Book is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Book in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Book has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Gaming Press Books by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Excerpts from Tales from the Pit They told me that if you were a dice dealer, you could have a job for the rest of your life, which still pretty much holds true today. We’re always looking for good dice dealers. Dave Torres And I wore glasses, I looked like a little school teacher...and it took me a good year and a half before I totally felt comfortable, and if someone called me a name or became argumentative or took a shot or anything like that, I would keep my mouth shut and deal my game.
    [Show full text]
  • One, Two, Sort the Shoe; Three, Four, Win Some More: the Rhyme and Reason of Phil Ivey’S Advantage Play at the Borgata
    \\jciprod01\productn\H\HLS\12-1\HLS102.txt unknown Seq: 1 4-FEB-21 15:01 One, Two, Sort the Shoe; Three, Four, Win Some More: The Rhyme and Reason of Phil Ivey’s Advantage Play at the Borgata Nanci K. Carr* ABSTRACT In the 1940’s film, “My Little Chickadee,” when a novice gambler asks if poker is a game of chance, W.C. Fields, a well-known comedic actor, playing Cuthbert J. Twillie, responded “Not the way I play it, no.”1 That familiar quote represented crooked card games played by Fields’ many char- acters in a variety of movies.2 But there is a difference between cheating and playing with an advantage. For example, one who has a large vocabulary has an advantage playing Scrabble®, but that advantage is not cheating. The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Phil Ivey, a famous poker player, debated in federal court whether having an advantage is illegal after Ivey won almost $10 million using an advantage that the Borgata, like a younger sibling who just lost a board game to an older sib- ling, cried was unfair. But what about the Borgata’s advantage? All casinos have a house advantage, among others, so it seems only fair that players are entitled to use an advantage too. * Nanci K. Carr is an Assistant Professor of Business Law and the Carande Family Faculty Fellow at California State University, Northridge. J.D., cum laude, Southwestern Law School; B.S., Business Administration, Ball State University. 1 Martin Harris, Poker & Pop Culture: Always Be Wary When W.C.
    [Show full text]
  • Tales from the Slot Floor: Casino Slot Managers in Their Own Words
    UNLV Gaming Press Books UNLV Libraries 2018 Tales from the Slot Floor: Casino Slot Managers in Their Own Words David Schwartz University of Nevada, Las Vegas, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/gaming_press Part of the Gaming and Casino Operations Management Commons, and the Operations and Supply Chain Management Commons Recommended Citation Schwartz, David, "Tales from the Slot Floor: Casino Slot Managers in Their Own Words" (2018). UNLV Gaming Press Books. 1. https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/gaming_press/1 This Book is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Book in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Book has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Gaming Press Books by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TALES FROM THE SLOT FLOOR Casino Slot Managers in Their Own Words edited and with an introduction by David G. Schwartz UNLV Gaming Press 4505 Maryland Parkway Box 457010 Las Vegas, NV 89154-7010 gamingpress.unlv.edu Tales from the Slot Floor: Casino Slot Managers in Their Own Words © 2018 UNLV Gaming Press All Rights Reserved. Library of Congress call number HD8039.C3462 U763 2018 Paperback ISBN 978-1-939546-11-1 Layout by David G.
    [Show full text]
  • Blackjack Autumn a True Tale of Life, Death, and Splitting Tens in Winnemucca
    “Witty, informative, and outrageous” —Midwest Book Review BlackjackBlackjack aautumnutumn A True Tale of Life, Death, and Splitting Tens in Winnemucca barry meadow Blackjack autumn A True Tale of Life, Death, and Splitting Tens in Winnemucca Barry Meadow Huntington Press Las Vegas, Nevada ConTenTS It’s All About the Benjamins, Baby 1 Cash, Brainiac, and Cloud Man 14 Ralph Makes His Move 79 Cleaning the Rack in Beatty 123 The Fishing’s Damn Good in Vancouver 185 Score Time at the Bird Farm 217 A Good Day to Die 243 Return to Glitzville 273 No More Jehovah’s Witnesses 312 Afterword 333 Appendix 336 Casino by Casino Record 337 Index 341 Jackpot • McDermitt • Winnemucca • Wells Elko • • Wendover • • Lovelock • Battle Mountain • Bordertown Verdi Sparks • • • Reno • Fallon Incline Village • Ely • Crystal Bay • • Carson City • S. Lake Tahoe Minden • Yerington • • Gardnerville • Topaz Lake • Hawthorne Montgomery Pass • Tonopah • St. George, • Utah • Beatty Mesquite Amargosa Valley • • Indian Springs • Pahrump N. Las Vegas • • Las Vegas • • E. Las Vegas • Henderson • Jean • Primm • Searchlight • Laughlin It’s All About the Benjamins, Baby In Beatty, the game halts because if I win the next hand, there are not enough chips in the tray to pay me. In less than 15 minutes at the Stratosphere in Las Vegas, I lose $1,800. I am trapped in Tonopah, the blackjack game so good that I dare not leave. In Sparks, I lose in every casino but one—and in that one, I’m told never to return. Playing blackjack in every Nevada casino that offered a live game took me two months and 4,000 miles and led me to towns where a tourist is as rare as a Hawaiian snowstorm.
    [Show full text]