Heard it on the River

There is something comforting in wrapping your arms around a large free turkey and taking it home to the family. BALLY'S caught that spirit when it gave away hundreds of the birds in its recent gift points promotion. It may remind you that Thanksgiving should be a holiday to be enjoyed alone without the ever-increasing commercial noise emanating from the frantic pre-Christmas push. Push aside that cacophony and you might be able to give thanks for what we can still enjoy in this great country.

For those of you who thought Internet gambling was a passing fad…next year will be the 10th anniversary of online gaming and it's reported that more than 5 million Americans have accounts with sites on the Internet. UNCLE SAM'S Office of Accountability says that next year the number will rise to about 7.4 million. The GAO also reported that 2003 online gambling revenue was more than $4 billion.

HATS OFF to HARRAH'S and CAESAR'S ENTERTAINMENT TUNICA GROUP. Harrah's has joined forces with ST. JUDE to support the children's research hospital THANKS & GIVING campaign. Harrah's will match donations from customers and employees up to $100,000. GRAND, SHERATON and HARRAH'S have donated $30,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of the Mississippi Delta for its new facility in Southaven, Miss.

THE HARRAH'S FOUNDATION has pledged $1 million to the endowment of the PHIL SATRE CHAIR in Gaming Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.
It is wonderful to see such giving from all of the Tunica gaming industry properties. Investing in children is one of the smartest moves we can make.

Speaking of giving and Harrah's, The Harrah's "Set for Life" drawing is Dec. 11 and someone is going to win $100,000 a year for 20 years. This simulcast drawing could make someone around here rich. It wouldn't be the first time a Tunica-area visitor won a bundle in a Harrah's nationwide promotion!

A visitor to FITZGERALDS struck it rich this month. Vivian, a 56-year-old clerical office worker from Tennessee, had been vacationing for several days at Fitzgeralds with her sister when she won a $3,136,643 MegaJackpots statewide progressive prize on a Friday afternoon. She was playing a Jeopardy 25-cent slot machine. Get this, she had wagered only $20. Talk about return on investment! Read all about it on the front page of this issue.

EAGER BEAVERS HIT IT RICH…should be the headline on this odd news item. It seems that $91,000 disappeared from LUCKY DOLLAR casino near Baton Rouge, LA and was dumped into a creek in three bags. Beavers found the loot, tore open a bag of bills and wove the money, intact; into the dam they were building. One big is still missing the deep water and a security guard was arrested from criminal theft.

WHAT MAKES THE JACK BINION WORLD POKER OPEN CLICK will be the subject of a feature story in the next issue of JACKPOT. Hint: Unmitigated cooperation between two highly competitive casinos.

WMS Gaming has developed its wide-area progressive system, which can now be found on one of the gaming company's most popular slot game series, Monopoly. Players love progressives, and they also love Monopoly themed slots, so this combination is sure to please, across the board.
Two unique three-reel mechanical games are the first to be featured in this series. The Monopoly Money slots can be found at all five Caesars Entertainment properties in Mississippi including at Grand Casino Tunica, Sheraton and Bally's. Available in 25-cent and $1 denominations, the slot machines feature a progressive jackpot that resets at $100,000.

REEVES WILLIAMS is busy building new homes in Tunica County and in nearby DeSoto County and is offering some strong incentives. It's good to see more and more residential development in Tunica. In fact, it's good to see development of all types in Tunica. The Tunica success story continues!

GARY BURRUS, Jr., VP of Security for Grand, has been awarded the coveted designation of Certified Protection Professional, the security profession's highest recognition of practioners. PATRICIA BROWN has been named as Marketing Director at Grand and will be responsible for developing new players in the Mid South region branch offices. HOLLYWOOD CASINO has announced the promotion of JON JOHNSON to Assistant General Manager. Hollywood is also the first casino in Tunica to offer the new MR. CASHMAN BONUS slot machines. Every Monday through Friday until Dec. 24, guests at PEARL RIVER RESORT will have a chance to win $10,000 in cash.

Folks from Memphis will now be able to let someone else do the driving to the Isle of Capri Casino and Resort Lula. Now guests can enjoy a trip on the "The Isle" on one of Coach USA's buses. The cost is $10 per person which includes a free buffet and $10 in coins. For reservations call 1.888.226.7600. Trips leave on Monday, Wednesday and Friday's, three different times and locations each day from Bartlett Lanes on Stage Road., Garden Ridge at Perimeter Mall and Schnuck's in Southbrook Mall.

The new 2005 edition of the American Casino Guide is now available for travelers seeking information on any U.S. casino. The completely updated 496-page paperback book covers 36 states and lists money-saving information on more than 700 casinos - every casino/resort in the U.S.

A special coupon section that includes 178 coupons providing more than $1,000 in savings at casinos and travel companies in all of America's major gaming centers. Included are offers for free betting money, buffets, shows, fun books and more. A complete list of all 178 coupons can be found on the publisher's website at www.amricancasinoguide.com.

FROM THE QUOTABLE GAMBLER…The Lyons Press
"I've got nothing against them playing, but those big handbags they keep on their laps worry me. The bags are always about to fall, and they grab them just in time; and when they're not keeping the bags from falling they're digging into them, and you don't know if they're coming up with lipstick, cigarettes, an automatic, or a spare ace!"
AN OLD-TIMER ON WOMEN POKER PLAYERS
The Great American Pastime (`1970)

LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULER!

In addition to being a senior consulting editor and columnist for Jackpot! Magazine, Rudi Schiffer is host of the GoodTimes Show, heard every Saturday beginning at 9:30 a.m. on SPORTSPLUS 790 WMC.

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