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02/28/2018

Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando debuts all-new "Future Rock Star Suites" featuring in-room stage, lights and memorabilia

Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando’s newly-redesigned Future Rock Star Suites let guests perform under the lights on their very own stage. Designed to capture the excitement of being on tour, these two-room suites feature applause-worthy floor to ceiling details, including a stage with liquid flooring and lights, a twinkling starlight canopy over the beds and brand new Hard Rock memorabilia from today’s superstars.

Each suite features an item once donned by a music celebrity and this marks the first time memorabilia has been installed inside a guest room at Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando. Every Future Rock Star Suite consists of a king room that connects through a “stage door” to a room with two twin beds and roadie case-inspired furniture.

“We designed these suites for tweens, teens and any kid who ever dreamed of performing on stage for thousands of adoring fans,” says Carlton Hudson, managing director at Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando. “The suites bring that dream to life for the entire family with everything a true rock star needs to put on an unforgettable show. Plus, we brought in pieces of Hard Rock’s priceless memorabilia collection to amplify the experience of staying in these one-of-a-kind suites.”

Hard Rock is recognized globally for world-class entertainment, stylish and contemporary design and unparalleled service. Guests of all Hard Rock Hotels enjoy an experience that infuses music as the key differentiator. Hard Rock’s The Sound of Your Stay is a complimentary all-encompassing in-room music amenity program that provides access to experiences for guests to jam out on a selection of Fender guitars or tune into the resurgence of vinyl records while listening to them on a Crosley turntable.

For more information or to book a stay at Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando, visit www.universalorlando.com/hardrock.

02/18/2018

SUGARHOUSE CASINO WELCOMES NIGHT RANGER’S 35TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

Night Ranger, the band that invented the power ballad of the 1980s, brings its classic sound to the SugarHouse Casino Event Center on Friday, April 27, at 9 p.m. Tickets for the band’s 35th anniversary tour go on sale Friday, Feb. 16, at 10 a.m. and cost from $29 to $49.

Night Ranger, best known for “Sister Christian,” a song that peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984, has significantly impacted popular culture with its melodic brand of hard rock. The band includes original 1979 members Jack Blades on bass and lead vocals, Brad Gillis on lead guitar, and Kelly Keagy on drums and lead vocals.

The band’s newest members, Eric Levy on keyboard and Keri Kelli on lead guitar, create the current quintet that continues to deliver the 1980s rock ‘n’ roll as well as its newest studio album “Don’t Let Up,” released in spring 2017.

“For 35 years and counting, Night Ranger has brought us many rock ‘n’ roll classics,” said Wendy Hamilton, general manager of SugarHouse Casino. “There will definitely be a lot of head-nodding and air guitars in The Event Center for this show!”

Having sold more than 17 million albums worldwide, Night Ranger has earned widespread fame with multi-platinum and gold albums, including “Dawn Patrol,” “Midnight Madness,” “7 Wishes,” “Big Life” and “Man In Motion.” In addition to “Sister Christian,” the band also has an impressive list of instantly recognizable hit singles such as “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” “(You Can Still) Rock In America” and many more.

Tickets for Night Ranger’s show and for all SugarHouse performances can be purchased on the SugarHouse Casino headliner events page. Upcoming shows include The Revolution (March 9), Jon Dorenbos (March 16), Buddy Guy (April 20), Cheech and Chong (May 5) and Vic DiBitetto (June 2).

In addition to live performances and concerts, the SugarHouse Casino Event Center can be reserved for a variety of occasions, including weddings, corporate receptions, seminars, trade shows and more. The space features floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views of the Delaware River waterfront and the Ben Franklin Bridge. Parking is always free.

For more information, please visit the SugarHOuse Casino website at: www.sugarhousecasino.com

For more information and the latest news about Night Ranger, visit NightRanger.com.

12/30/2017

Dracula’s Casino Slot Launched by Wazdan

Marie Kelley (Casino World News) / December 30, 2017

Online casino gaming developer, Wazdan, recently announced the launch of a new slot game based after a horror theme. Dracula’s Castle is a fangtastic new title ready for players to log on and start spinning. The new game is based on the Prince of Darkness and his followers, all thirsting for blood. With five reels and five paylines, the slot includes quality graphics and sounds to coincide with this unique horror theme.

Several symbols can be found on the reels to stay within the gloomy theme. Find vampires looking for blood, the male and female variety, as well as blood-filled glasses, the grave and bats. Game play is completed in the nighttime hours, with Count Dracula serving as the Wild symbol of the slot. When a Wild is caught on a winning payline, the symbol will expand to cover the reel or the entire screen to create even more chances to win!

The online slot game includes several unique features such as a wall of identical symbols. With the wall, players can earn multipliers of wins including 3x, 4x and 5x when the same game symbols are found on the first three, first four or first five reels.

In a press release, a spokesperson for Wazdan stated: “Count Dracula has influenced imagination in generations of players. We are extremely happy to launch another slot game devoted to this unforgettable character and hope that while spinning the reels of Dracula’s Castle our players will experience real thrill.”

Dracula’s Castle is the latest release by the developer, after the successful launch of new titles such as Valhalla and Magic Target Deluxe.

For more stories from Casino World News, please visit: news.worldcasinodirectory.com

12/21/2017

US Commercial Casinos
Monthly Revenues / October 2017

Nevada .................... $988,744,000
Pennsylvania ........... $261,944,184
Louisiana ................. $243,995,107
Illinois ...................... $226,375,558
New Jersey ............. $206,386,081
Indiana .................... $168,792,825
New York ................. $167,233,957
Mississippi ............... $157,141,936
Ohio ......................... $144,737,937
Missouri ................... $137,036,176
Maryland .................. $133,235,700
Iowa ......................... $118,440,076
Michigan .................. $112,667,683
Colorado .................. $67,571,543
West Virginia ........... $46,099,704
Maine ...................... $44,086,209
Rhode Island ........... $43,282,740
Florida ..................... $42,971,897
Delaware ................. $39,724,190
New Mexico ............ $18,540,693
Oklahoma ............... $10,838,825
South Dakota ........... $8,712,785
Kansas ..................... NA

Total USA ................. 3,388,559,806

To view this report in its entirety, please visit the UNLV Center for Gaming Research at: gaming.unlv.edu/reports/national_monthly.pdf

11/27/2017

ATLANTIS IS NOW A FOUR GREEN GLOBES CERTIFIED RESORT
Respected certification recognizes buildings committed to environmental efficiencies

RENO, NV - Atlantis Casino Resort Spa announces that it has been assessed by the Green Building Initiative (GBI), resulting in its top rating - the prestigious Four Green Globes certification.

The Four Green Globes certification indicates a score of 85 percent to 100 percent, proving that a property demonstrates national leadership and excellence in the practice of water, energy, and environmental efficiency to reduce environmental impacts.

“This certification is the result of Atlantis’ efforts to build and maintain the most energy-efficient facilities possible,” said Perry Sanders, Atlantis’ Engineering Director. “We are committed to providing our guests with the absolute best possible experience across all facets of their stay. One vital part of our corporate development strategy is to meet the needs of our guests without compromising the abilities of future generations.”

The Four Green Globes certification comes on the heels of Atlantis being named Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association’s Leading Sustainability hotel for 2017, an award presented during the Stars of the Industry gala Oct. 26 in Las Vegas.

For more information, please visit: atlantiscasino.com

10/27/2017

Poker Hole Card Nicknames

Players have given their hole card combinations some creative nicknames over the years. Here are a few of the classics (and a few of the not so classics as well)

AA - American Airlines, Bullets
KK - King Kong, Ace Magnets
QQ - Hilton Sisters, Ladies
JJ - Fishhooks, Frick and Frack
TT - Dimes, Bo Derek
99 - Wayne Gretzky
88 - Snowmen, Pretzels
77 - Candy Canes, Hockey Sticks
66 - Route 66, Boots
55 - Nickels, Sammy Hagar
44 - Sailboats, Luke Skywalker
33 - Crabs, Treys
22 - Ducks
AK - Big Slick, Kalashnikov
AQ - Little Slick, Mrs Slick
AJ - Ajax, Blackjack
AT - Bookends
A4 - Stu Ungar
KQ - Marriage , Lucy and Ricky
KJ - Kojak, Harry Potter
K9 - Canine
QJ - Maverick
Q7 - Computer Hand (offsuit)
J5 - Jackson Five, Motown
T4 - Broderick Crawford, Good Buddy
T2 - Doyle Brunson, Texas Dolly
95 - Dolly Parton
72 - Beer Hand , W.H.I.P.

For an amazing compilation of playing-card nicknames, please visit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_playing-card_nicknames

10/25/2017

Tropicana Evansville hosts Grand Opening of new land-based casino

by K Morrison / October 21, 2017

At 10am on Thursday, October 20, the new land-based Tropicana Evansville hosted its long-awaited Grand Opening after having been a riverboat casino along the Ohio River for 22 years.

On Monday, the riverboat closed as the remaining gaming tables and slot machines were relocated by workers into the new $50 million facility. In 2015, the Indiana General Assembly passed new land-based legislation making the transformation from riverboat possible.

The move to the state‘s first land-based casino was managed by Kentucky firm, Encompass Develop, Design and Construct, and last year on July 19th, Las Vegas-based Tropicana Entertainment Inc. (OTCQB: TPCA) broke ground on its new land-based casino located between the Tropicana Evansville and Le Merigot hotels. The overall cost of the project, according to earlier reports, exceeded the company’s $50 million commitment to the city.

The 75,000 square foot facility features 45,000 square feet of gaming all on one level now and reportedly includes 1,175 slot machines, 30 table games offering such games as craps, blackjack, mini-baccarat and baccarat and a dedicated poker room with eight tables, a high limit room, a bar/restaurant, deli and entertainment lounge.

There are also two first-class hotels by way of the 243-room Tropicana Evansville, on the Downtown Riverfront and Le Merigot, Evansville’s first boutique hotel with 96 guestrooms. The hotels feature event venues with over 10,800 square feet of interior event space and over 30,500 square-feet of exterior event space and additional dining and bars/lounges.

To view this story in its entirety, please visit: news.worldcasinodirectory.com/tropicana-evansville-hosts-grand-opening-of-new-land-based-casino-50605

10/19/2017

Checking Out Pokerstars TV

If you enjoy watching live/recorded poker matches with cards-up coverage then Pokerstars.com should be on your watchlist. Pokerstars.com offers live coverage and archives of many events including EPT, PokerSchool, Shark Cage, PCA, WCOOP and much more. We've been watching a lot of Pokerstars cards-up coverage lately and it's always entertaining (and educational).

For more information please visit: www.pokerstars.com/en/tv/

09/29/2017

"Haunted School of Rock" set for Hard Rock Cafe

TAMPA, Fla. (September 25, 2017) – With Halloween looming on the horizon, Hard Rock Cafe in Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has announced it will host the “Haunted School of Rock” on Saturday, October 28, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

The event will be hosted by Brian Fink of 93.3FLZ and the Seminole Hard Rock Girls. It will feature a $2,500 costume contest.

General admission tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster.com or in the property’s Rock Shop. For VIP table reservations, please call (813) 627-6649 or email [email protected].

DJ Connor Cruise will be the special guest for “Haunted School of Rock.” Cruise has performed at major music festivals, clubs and private events. Also performing will be DJ T Quest and DJ Santana.

09/27/2017

08/28/2017

Remission Process Begins for Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet Victims

August 22, 2017 Valerie Cross / pokernews.com

More than six years after Black Friday, customers of Absolute Poker and sister site Ultimate Bet may finally find some justice in the form of recovered funds. For customers of the two sites who confirmed their account balances before the initial filing deadline of June 9, 2017, remission of lost funds appears to be on the horizon.

According to absolutepokerclaims.com, the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the Department of Justice (MLARS) has approved a first round of payments totaling nearly $33.5 million to approximately 7,400 Petitioners and the repayment process has already begun. This comes after the completion of the remission process for Full Tilt Poker, in which the DOJ paid out over $118 million to online poker fraud victims.

The compensation attempts follow an agreement reached between Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet (of the Cereus network) and the Department of Justice less than one month after Black Friday on May 10, 2011 to “provide all necessary assurances that third parties may work with Absolute Poker to facilitate the return of funds, currently held by third-party processors, to players located in the U.S.”

How the Process Works

In a process similar to the Full Tilt Poker remission, the Garden City Group, LLC will again be the purveyor of funds, this time for the Absolute Poker Claims Administration. The Absolute Poker/Ultimate Bet victims are to be compensated based on conduct detailed in United States v. PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker, Absolute Poker, et al., 11 Civ. 2564 (LBS) in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Petitioners residing in the United States will receive payments via electronic ACH while those outside the U.S. are to receive their payment in the form of a foreign currency check, or via USD check or foreign currency wire, depending on the country of residence. Emails are being sent this month from GCG to approved Petitioners with amount and method of repayment, as well as instructions on submitting required banking information to facilitate repayment.

Petitions for Money Still Open

An extended “Petition for Remission” deadline of Sept. 7, 2017 is listed on the Claims Administration website so players who were unable to recover funds from these sites in the wake of Black Friday still have time to submit a petition. All pertinent information about Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet claims can be found on the claims website.

To view this article in its entirety, please visit: https://www.pokernews.com/news/2017/08/remission-process-absolute-poker-ultimate-bet-28800.htm

08/24/2017

Hard Rock International To Rock The Alps With Hard Rock Hotel Davos

With presence in more than 70 countries across the globe, Hard Rock International is expanding its hotel portfolio to the Swiss Alps, announcing plans to open Hard Rock Hotel Davos. Working in collaboration with International Hospitality Service AG (“IHS”), the owner of Spenglers Hotel and Holsboer Residences in Davos, Hard Rock will electrify the region in December 2017.

Located in the highest city within Europe, which hosts the World Economic Forum, the upcoming Hard Rock Hotel Davos is conveniently situated in the heart of the town, providing easy access to popular attractions. The property is positioned close to the train station, which is easily accessible from Zurich, and also provides guests convenient access to nearby boutiques and dining options. The hotel is also walking distance from ski lifts and museums, as well as the city’s convention center, golf course, renowned Vaillant Arena, home to the professional Swiss ice hockey club, Hockey Club Davos, and where the Spengler Cup is played every year.

Catering to both business and leisure travelers, Hard Rock Hotel Davos will feature 111 lavishly redesigned rooms, including 31 serviced one to three bedroom apartments. In addition to three conference rooms for dynamic meeting space, an on-site, historic chapel will also be available for booking, containing a modern sound system, natural acoustics, fully functioning organ and adaptable lighting, ideal for banquets, weddings, private concerts and events. For those looking to hit the slopes, the hotel will also offer guests a ski room where they can store equipment and gear.

Delectable food and beverage options will be available on-site, such as an existing three-meal restaurant, a local hot spot complete with a picturesque terrace located on the first floor. The restaurant will also provide a high-end lobby bar and sophisticated private bar, perfect for private dining and tastings. The hotel will also offer an exclusive rooftop bar, providing the only spot for breathtaking 360-degree views of the mountains and city.

In true Hard Rock style, the hotel will entice guests with an array of signature brand offerings and amenities, including The Sound of Your Stay® music amenity program, allowing guests to set the mood with complimentary vinyl players and records or rock out on a Fender guitar during an in-room jam session, complete with an amp and head phones. Additionally, the property will boast a wellness center, including a Body Rock® workout facility and a Rock Spa®, complete with the music-infused Rhythm & Motion spa menu, five treatment rooms and a yoga studio.

Through music appreciation and an imaginative environment, Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos delivers products for the varied aspects of life – work, play and personal sanctuary. For more information or to book a stay at any of the Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos, please visit: www.hardrockhotels.com.