Foxwoods Resort and Casino

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Posted by admin | Posted on 25-03-2009

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Foxwoods Resort and Casino is located in Ledyard, Connecticut and is about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Hartford Connecticut, 2 hour drive from the New York border and 1/2 from the Rhode Island line. Foxwoods offers multiple hotels, casinos, a kids area, meeting areas, a unique shopping experience, spas, golf and more! In addition, Foxwoods has teamed up with MGM to expand the already 4.7 million sq ft. complex to include an additional hotel, restaurants and luxury shopping corridor.

The hotels on the property include the Grand Pequot Tower, the Grand Cedar Hotel and the Two Trees Inn. MGM will be added in the spring. The Grand Pequot Tower is a 4-star hotel (AAA) with over 1,000 rooms. The tranquil Grand Salon and Spa is also offered here at the Towers. The Grand Cedar Hotel sits on top of Rainmaker Square, the Theatre District, fine dining, shopping, an indoor pool, and fitness center. Rainmaker Square is the entrance to separate portals of one of the casinos. Both of these hotels offer excellent service and staff and could be compared to any Marriott (Pequot Tower) or Sheraton (Grand Cedar) hotel with indoor pools and all the amenities.

My favorite is the Two Trees Inn. Two Trees is located about 10 minutes away from the casinos. It is a tranquil, quieter hotel that serves individuals looking to ‘get-away’ but still be able to go to the casino whenever they want. There is a large indoor pool, a sit down restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and a very friendly and professional staff. Just walking in there makes me want to curl up by the ‘fire’ with a good book. One word of advice, during busy times you should make a reservation at the restaurant or get there early to get a table.

As far as casinos goes it is one of the largest in the world (formally it was). There are over 380 tables with games ranging from blackjack and craps to paigow and Caribbean Stud Poker. There are over 7,000 slots including a 500 slot non-smoking area. The refurbished poker room features brand new penny and nickel slots.

Since the slots moved in, the no-smoking poker room has been moved to the lower level. Foxwoods is a charter member of the World Poker Tour. It hosts the World Poker Finals and the Foxwoods Poker Classic with its 114 tables. For the average player you will find Hold’em, Stud and others with very low to no-limit tables. There is a cafe with hot and coldofferings right next to the poker floor. Personally I liked when the poker room was upstairs (it was roomier) but the new area has a more intimate feel to it.

Wherever you are in the casino, the staff and dealers are unbelievably helpful and friendly and will make your stay wonderful.

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Showboat Casino Atlantic City

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Posted by admin | Posted on 25-03-2009

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The Showboat Casino is one of the newest additions to the hotel/casino family in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Owned by Harrahs, the same company with hotels both in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, this hotel advertises a non-stop party atmosphere. In fact it has been compared with being a part of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, only 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every week of the year.

This hotel features 1,329 guest rooms, full service spa, outdoor pool, lively casino, and the perfect location with being located directly on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. The Showboat Hotel and Casino also offers a The House of Blues, a live music venue that has hosted a wide variety of artists from the Backstreet Boys and Hanson to Billy Idol and B.B. King. If you’re in the mood for theater the Showboat also hosts the musical Tony n’ Tinas Wedding in which guests get to actually take part in this hilarious dinner show.

If you begin to feel parched between your hands of blackjack, or just need a quick drink during the intermission of one of Showboats live shows, you will be in luck as there are three separate bars all located within the hotel. If you start getting hungry the Showboat will still have you covered with seven different areas to grab some dinner or a light lunch, ranging from full on steak and chops at the House of Blues restaurant to a bagel and coffee at their full service Starbucks.

Whether you feel like shopping in the hotels high end gift shop, or just letting it all ride on the poker table, there are so many things to do at the Showboat Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City that if you wanted to, you would never even have to leave the hotel to have a fun and fulfilling vacation.

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Casino Dealer Jobs – How to Become a Dealer in Las Vegas

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Posted by admin | Posted on 18-03-2009

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Unlike many other jobs offered at Las Vegas casinos, if you want to become a dealer, you need to complete a course at Dealers’ school before you can start work. Many schools in the Las Vegas area offer courses, and some casinos will provide this training to new hires. The course is not a lengthy one; you can expect to finish your training in six weeks or less.

Some dealer schools offer job placement assistance and tips on preparing for interviews in the gaming industry. If so, be sure to take advantage of the help offered. You want to project the right kind of image if you want to get hired by a Las Vegas casino as a dealer.

One Las Vegas dealer job available is that of craps dealer. Working the craps table takes four people. One person, the box attendant, is responsible for supervising the progress of the game. This individual is also responsible for making decisions about whether a particular roll of the dice was a valid one or not. Another person, known as the stick, is the one who pushes the dice toward the player before a roll.

Two craps dealers are located at the other end of the table and are responsible for handling cash and providing players with chips. They make pay the winning players and collect the money the less fortunate players bet in the game.

To be a successful craps dealer, you must be able to think on your feet. This is a fast-paced game and you need to have a clear head to follow the action. Your hourly rate of pay won’t be very high; you can expect to make between $6.00 and $9.00 per hour. Most of the money made by craps dealers is attributed to tips from players. An outgoing person who is able to make a connection with players is likely to do well at this type of work.

You may also be interested in finding work as a poker dealer. Once again, you will be expected to take a course to get the necessary skills before applying for employment. The course you choose should cover such topics as handling cards, techniques for dealing cards, game rules, how to control the table, and how to interact with players.

Blackjack dealers in Las Vegas also need to have completed a special course before getting hired. The course should cover the rules of the game as well as how to deal from a single deck or a double deck. Shuffling machines should also be covered, since this piece of equipment is often used in casinos. You will be shown how to cut the cards, the proper technique for laying out the cards, and how to make payoffs to winners. Being able to control the game is also part of the job, so you will want to make sure that this important topic is covered in your course.

Your first job after finishing your dealer training course may be at one of the smaller casinos. You need to have a certain amount of experience before you will be considered ready for employment at one of the larger gaming establishments. These positions will probably be more lucrative for you, since much of your income will come from tips.

If you are an outgoing person who likes to see people enjoying themselves, becoming a dealer in Las Vegas may be a good job choice for you. Whether you work in this capacity for a short time or make it a long-term career, you are certain to find it a memorable experience.

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Harvey’s Casino Resort in South Lake Tahoe

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Posted by admin | Posted on 12-03-2009

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South Lake Tahoe, especially the Nevada side has really interesting architecture. It tries to recreate the Las Vegas experience within a half mile stretch. Tall hotel towers, bright lights, glitter and gamblers. Harvey’s Casino Resort is located right on the border with California so many people cross over from the quaint California side (just across the street) to try their luck. We stayed at Harvey’s in the middle of May ….

Our room had outstanding views. Lake Tahoe in all its glamour with surrounding forests and snow capped mountains. I found myself staring at this wonderland all the time … Hotel room was decent. Clean and modest. Moving through the hotel though did not give me a Lake Tahoe experience at all. Air inside the resort was very smoky. Everything had a gambling focus. With all this wonderful nature around us, we were completely isolated from it.

Staff was pleasant. Hotel was a bit dated though it seemed like they made the most of what they have. We did not try any restaurants here.

The highlight of the entire trip included being far away from any urban areas. Lake Tahoe is so beautiful and offers such variety of activities that once you are here the last thing I would recommend is to hang around your hotel and inhale cigarette smoke. On our next visit we will probably to stay on the California side in a smaller hotel/motel.

Harveys Lake Tahoe

P.O. Box 128

Stateline , NV 89449

Phone: 775-588-2411

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Montreal Casino Hotels

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Posted by admin | Posted on 06-03-2009

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Montreal, situated in the southern Quebec province in Canada, is the second largest metropolitan city in the country. Along with having a large French speaking population, citizens also speak English. Since it is encircled by the St Lawrence River, the city has an important harbor that helps foster international trade interests. The city is a seat of continuous activity and popular amongst tourists all over the world. The city boasts citizens who have migrated from different countries, and has a strong and diverse cultural influence. Gambling is considered to be an age-old practice, and estimates suggest that millions of dollars are exchanged at casinos everyday.

Due to increased spending capacity, a large number of people like gambling when in Montreal. A large number of people schedule stays at Montreal casino hotels, during their visit or include them in their itineraries. When making reservations at a Montreal casino hotel it is important, to make enquires regarding hotel tariffs and taxes. This is because such establishments comprise of a large number of facilities, restaurants and amenities. This in turn makes them high priced accommodations, and may prove to be a financial burden for some people.

Apart from other inclusions, such hotels are designed to house casino activities. These accommodations allow people to experience a holiday and play or gamble in the casinos. Certain casino hotels double up as mini financial institutions, as they provide cash advances, to regulars and old timers. This works well for the establishment because money that is lent amounts to, more money being spent at the casino hotel.

These hotels do not limit the casino experience to just a few games. Such hotels cater to every need of visitors in order to reduce distractions or hinder gaming activities. Since the money involved is enormous, Montreal casino hotels continuously improve standards and services to vie for customers. Certain casino hotels may provide reasonable rates during off-seasons, which allows a large number of people to experience a casino hotel.

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Claiming Gambling Losses on Your Tax Return

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Posted by admin | Posted on 27-02-2009

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If you make any winnings in the gambling, you need to report the full amount of the winnings for the year on line 21 on Form 1040. You can deduct the losses you make from gambling for the year, on line 28 of form 1040 on Schedule A. However, you cannot deduct the losses from gambling which are more than your winnings! Also remember, this facility is not available to the non-resident aliens. They cannot deduct losses on gambling in schedule A.

In order to claim losses on gambling you need to know certain basic rules of IRS on the subject. Suppose you make a winning in gambling of $1000 and in the same year you make losses of $500, you cannot reduce your winnings by your gambling losses and the report the difference of $500. You have to report the full amount of your winnings as your income and then you can claim losses equal to the amount of winnings as an itemized deduction. So your records for gambling activity should show your winnings separately from your losses.

In order to claim losses in gambling, you need to keep proper records. You must keep a diary entering details of all the losses and winnings from gambling. The diary should contain the following information

The date and the type of your wagering activity. The location of the gambling establishment indicating the name and address. The names of persons present with you at the gambling establishment. The amount won or lost.

The maintenance is just one part of IRS requirements. In addition to the diary you must keep all the related documentation. This can include form W-2G (declaring Winnings from Gambling), Form 5754 (It’s a Statement by person who receives winnings from gambling), tickets for wagering, the credit card records including the bank statements showing withdrawals or receipts, payments slips provided to you by the gaming establishment.

These records are just suggestive. The tax liability depends on the facts of a particular winning or losing and the related circumstances.

Keno – the copies of the Keno tickets purchased by you and validated by a gambling establishment, copies of your casino credit records, and copies of your casino check Cashing records are required to be produced for winnings and losses from keno activity.

Slot machines – If you’re playing on these machines, a record of the machine number and all the winning date and time the machine was played.

Table games (including blackjack, poker, roulette, wheel of fortune etc) – the number of the table you are playing, Casino credit card details showing the credit issued.

Bingo – You should keep a record of the games you played, the cost of the tickets purchased and the amounts collected on winning tickets, any receipts from the casino and other relevant records.

Winnings from racing – a record of races you played, the amount of wagers, the amounts collected on winning tickets and amounts lost on losing tickets need to be produced.

Winnings from lotteries – a record of tickets purchased, the dates of purchase, winnings and losses are required to be kept. You can also keep unredeemed tickets and payments slips in support of your claim.

Many people never realize that winnings from gambling are taxable. And those who know it, tend to ignore it. However you should remember that the legal betting options like state lotteries, casinos and horse racing tracks are regulated by government agencies and IRS keeps a close track with these agencies. In fact that is the reason why the bells ring when you hit the slot. They’re shouting that someone is there to report your gambling information to the IRS.

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Casino Business Opportunity

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Posted by admin | Posted on 17-02-2009

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There are really two main options to owning a casino business. One is to purchase a casino business for sale such as an online casino. More and more people are gambling online. A start up of this business can run from less than $200 to over $5,000. It is all dependent on who you want to run it.

There are many franchises with a business plan already laid out for you. There are also pre-built poker and casino rooms that can start your online business. Either way you will be set up with a web site and given all the tools you will need to succeed. However, you will be responsible for all marketing of your web site. Some franchise’s offer you proven guidelines to help you market, and others don’t. To market on the internet costs money, and the more money you put out the more hits on your web site.

This is truly a home business. You will make money 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Many online casino opportunities make 75% to 85% of the monthly deposits of your customers. Your good marketing can make this a very lucrative business.

There is also another option, and that is to start a casino biz opportunity that caters to employers, corporations, non-profit and civic clubs. It is a growing business that more people are using for fun and profit. You go to a location and create the atmosphere of a real casino. Many are willing to pay to have this outlet for their employees or as fund-raisers.

Before going out and purchasing cards, roulette wheels and tables, you should create a business plan. This will help you discover if you will need a license to operate the business, and what locations you cannot operate. But first call or log on to your local and state government web site, and ask about regulations and requirements for your business opportunity.

Once you have that information, go to your local Small Business Administration office or log on to their web site. You will find a sample business plan and other forms you will need, mentors, financing information, and other options to help you get your casino business opportunity started.

While working on your casino business plan, start pricing your equipment, and looking for employees. You may be able to contact a local temporary employee service for employees when you are first starting, but you may just want to explain to the employee that they are paid per event. This is an important decision and needs to be decided early on in the venture.

Now that your casino business plan is ready, start looking for financing. You can contact private individuals, banks, and the Small Business Administration. Prepare a proposal explaining your casino business opportunity and business plan. You may be turned away and turned down. Be persistent, you will get financing.

Once you have the financing start advertising your business and purchase your equipment. Get your employees ready to start working. You can send out fliers to corporations explaining your service, and focus on the use of it during conferences to relax and entertain the employers.

Contact Hotels and events facilities to sell your casino business opportunity as well. Many times the facility is required to offer entertainment to conference attendees. This will work in your favor and help you get clients.

Also, let local non-profit organizations know about the opportunity to use your service as a fund-raiser. You can create an exquisite casino business opportunity that is fun and different to help them raise money for their charity or cause. Any of these options or all of them can keep your casino business opportunity busy.

Review your casino business plan annually and make changes as necessary. You also want to subscribe to newsletters and periodicals in the industry to keep abreast of the industry trends. Read books and visit web sites. Most of all, watch your competition.

This is truly a great way to make money and have fun at the same time.

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Gambling addiction

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Posted by admin | Posted on 13-02-2009

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A movie I recently made for an English Class giving some statistics about gambling addictions

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Gambling Income and Expenses – Tax Requirements

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Posted by admin | Posted on 09-02-2009

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Hit a big one? With more and more gambling establishments, keep in mind the IRS requires people to report all gambling winnings as income on their tax return.

Gambling income includes, but is not limited to, winnings from lotteries, raffles, horse and dog races and casinos. Unfortunately, gambling income also includes the fair market value of prizes such as cars, houses, trips or other non-cash prizes.

Generally, if you receive $600 ($1,200 from bingo and slot machines and $1,500 from keno) or more in gambling winnings and your winnings are at least 300 times the amount of the wager, the payer is required to issue you a Form W-2G. If you have won more than $5,000, the payer may be required to withhold 25 percent of the proceeds for Federal income tax. However, if you did not provide your Social Security number to the payer, the amount withheld will be 28 percent.

The full amount of your gambling winnings for the year must be reported on line 21, Form 1040. If you itemize deductions, you can deduct your gambling losses for the year on line 27, Schedule A (Form 1040). You cannot deduct gambling losses that are more than your winnings.

It is important to keep an accurate diary or similar record of your gambling winnings and losses. To deduct your losses, you must be able to provide receipts, tickets, statements or other records that show the amount of both your winnings and losses.

Face it, the IRS gets you coming and going. Well, I’m off to play poker.

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Casino Internships Often Turn Into Casino Jobs

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Posted by admin | Posted on 09-02-2009

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If you are interested in working at a casino or a hotel and would like to get some practical experience to put on your resume, you may want to consider an internship program at one of them.

There are a couple of really good reasons why an internship at a casino or a hotel makes sense for students. The first one is that it gives you an opportunity to try out a working environment before graduation. You may find that you are on the right track as far as your plans are concerned, or the right area of specialization for you may be completely different from what you had originally anticipated.

The second reason why an internship at a casino or a hotel is a good move is that it allows you to show a potential employer what kind of employee you would make. Even if you don’t end up being offered a permanent position at the end of your internship, you will be able to indicate that you have some job-related experience on your resume. This will give you an advantage over someone who has only classroom training.

College and university students enrolled in hospitality programs can get help finding available internship programs. The employer does have the final say in whether you will be hired for an internship program, but colleges and universities have staff members who can help you to target your search to opportunities that would best fit your interests.

An internship can be either paid or unpaid, and you can be hired for one during the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Each program is different, but you can expect the internship will last anywhere from three to six months.

Your academic record will be taken into consideration when you are being considered for an internship at a casino or a hotel. A GPA (Grade Point Average) of 3.0 or higher will likely be needed to show these potential employers that you would make a good intern.

Students interested in applying for internship opportunities at casinos and hotels can also look for opportunities online. Some of them will be posted on job boards. Simply use the word “intern” or “internship” when you are conducting your search, along with the word “hotel” or “casino,” as the case may be. You can also limit your search to a particular location by typing in the name of the city or state where you would like to work.

Another strategy you can use to find available internship positions is to contact a potential employer directly. Many hotels and casinos have internship information listed on their web site. It would be listed in the “Jobs” or “Careers” section of the site.

If there is a particular casino or hotel you are interested in that hasn’t offered internships in the past, you can still approach that employer to see if they would be willing to take you on as an intern anyway. Keep in mind that each employer that offers internships has to start somewhere.

When you are looking for a summer internship program, you are not necessarily limited to local jobs. Internships are available nationally, as well as in such countries as South Africa, Mexico, Ireland, Costa Rica, Germany, Spain, Ecuador, France, and more. If you think you would like to get an idea of what working in the hospitality industry in a foreign country might be like, then one of these positions may be just what you are looking for.

Start thinking about where you would like to spend your internship and start applying early for available opportunities. That way, you won’t be disappointed.

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