Heard it on the River

From all reports the grand opening weekend of the new RIVERPARK MUSEUM and its surrounding 167 acres of Ecopark adjacent to FITZGERALDS CASINO, which donated 70 core acres to help make this vision become reality, was a great success. We all sometimes take such amenities for granted but you owe it yourself, your family and guests to visit this wonderful complex that is perched on the banks of the Mississippi above the dock for the TUNICA QUEEN riverboat. A tour through the museum, that is crammed with artifacts and history related to this mythic river, followed by a cruise on the riverboat is an experience that you will remember. It was nice to also hear Gov. HALEY BARBOUR, who was the keynote speaker at the dedication ceremony, give due praise to Tunica's casinos for making it all possible through their tax dollars and to the COUNTY BOARD of SUPERVISORS for having the wisdom to invest so wisely.

With this superb amenity in place, now let's get a move on with the proposed NASCAR track and the convention center and hotel that will be on the agenda soon before the County. What else is down the road? We predict another impact amenity will be coming. Stay tuned! Tunica County is no longer the "poorest county in the Union," as it was once described, in the New York Times, I think, so let's bury that label forever.

Nice to see BALLY'S pump up its very popular ULTIMATE BLACK TOURNAMENT that will soon be playing for the 24th time there on April 16-18.
The prize money has been increased from $125,000 to $150,000 and first place is worth a guaranteed $60,000. The buy-in, however, remains at $500/ Call
1-80038BALLY, ext. 1511.

GOLDSTRIKE'S next $100,000 blackjack tournament is set for May 14-16 and the buy-in is $500, but there is a nice angle in that you can re-buy for $250 if you come up short in the qualifying sessions. Call 1-877-245-8477.

Do you like to gamble online likes thousands upon thousands of fellow Americans? Your fun may be coming to an end as the FEDS are moving to curb the growing popularity of such gambling by putting the pressure on American companies that do business with Internet casinos and sports books based outside our borders.

GOLDSTRIKE, which is getting very spicy, turns up the heat this month with MIDNIGHT FANTASY, a hot direct-from-Vegas dance review. The playfully sexy show runs evenings, Thursday through Sunday, in the Millennium theatre. Peformances are at 8 p.m Thursdays, Fridays at 9 p.m. and Saturdays at 8:30 and 10 p.m. There is also a show on Sunday night at 8 o'clock. Tickets can be ordered at 1-888-24K.PLAY or online at goldstrike.com.

Tres bien. MONIQUE MARCHAND, A charming French lady, has been named as regional food and beverage trainer for CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT. MURANO'S, however, is probably not a priority for her program as new chef GINO CIPRIANO, maitre'd ALEIKA, and my favorite waiter, the smiling Marseille Marvel, JEANNOT have things well under control. It will be only get better when VICTOR, the room's manager, returns after his hospital stay, which may have already happened. Also at GRAND, HERB GEE is back at the helm as VP of Table Games and promises that another FOUR CARD POKER table will be installed to handle the demand for this game that is growing in popularity in Tunica.

It was a happy St. Patrick's Day for DWAYNE GRIIFTH of Springdale AR who hit the Caribbean Stud Poker game at Grand for $183,628.But I was not crazy to hear what he is going to do with the money. He said he was heading to Vegas as he now had a little more to play with. Don't forget to use your CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CONNECTION CARD, Dwayne. You could have come back to Tunica to play, the comps are better here. GOLDSTRIKE'S LESLIE TODD won $20,000 and he didn't have to toss the dice or flip a card to do it. He won the money when he was selected for the MANDALAY RESORT GROUP'S distinguished CHAIRMAN'S LEADERSHIP AWARD. The banquet supervisor from Memphis won over a field of 36 contenders.

From the QUOTABLE GAMBLER, The Lyons Press

"You cannot believe the level of excitement that a craps table can generate. I've heard people make all kinds of involuntary sounds as a hot shooter rolls. One guy, a well-dressed balding businessman, very dignified and well mannered, suddenly started crowing like a rooster as a shooter caught fire. This guy's face became beet-red as he crowed with delight. Another man howled like a wolf one night as he won his bets. One older woman would do a little pirouette every time her numbers hit."

FRANK SCOBLETE…Beat the Craps Out of Casinos: How to Play Craps and Win! (1991)

LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULER!

Heard it on the River is published courtesy of Jackpot Magazine, the South's leading gaming newspaper.