As I learned last night in the course of a really interesting discussion, Woody Allen once said that 80% of life is just showing up…at least that the way I heard it. Apparently, Benedict College has taken this to heart, as freshmen are guaranteed passing grades just for…showing up.
Just keep showing up? Read More »
haphazard worldEstonia, the small Baltic republic and recent addition to the European Union, apparently has had some problems with problem gamblers.
Estonian problem gambling Read More »
gambling & cultureAlthough there are many books about gambling published each year, including mine, I really didn’t have a handle on how lucrative the market could be until I read this story about the stupid hype around a forthcoming “winner tells all” book:
Gambling book gimmick Read More »
gambling & cultureThe US isn’t the only country trying unsuccessfully to stop foreign companies from offering Internet gaming to its citizens. The Czech republic is facing similar problems:
Online gambling, Czech style Read More »
news about gamblingOne of the questions I often get is, “What are the effects of the popularity of poker on teenagers?” I think that if you think about it for a second, that’s a really stupid question. First of all, it assumes that someone could measure exposure of teenagers to poker like it was a caustic substance
Banning cards in high school Read More »
gambling & cultureThe WTO panel which decided in favor of Antigua in that country’s suit against the United States has released its 287-page report. From the Register: US laws banning cross-border gambling break international trade rules, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled yesterday. The judgement in favour of the tiny Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, home
WTO releases decision Read More »
news about gamblingI guess that’s the pessimistic way to look at this story, but since no one in the media mentioned that aspect, I figured it was my duty. MGM Mirage has announced it will build a 4000-room casino resort and urban complex on the site of the Boardwalk casino. From Forbes via AP: MGM Mirage officials
Goodbye to the Boardwalk Read More »
life in vegasLocals casinos in Las Vegas often cash paychecks, which can be viewed as a convenient amenity or an inducement to gamble, depending on your humor. Since they don’t do this in New Jersey, it’s a practice I’ve always looked askance at, but what do I know? Here, Adam Goldman of the AP dissects the issue:
Payday at the casino Read More »
life in vegasIntuitively, casinos seem like unhealthy places, what with all of the drinking, smoking, and all-you-can-eat buffets. According to one British professor, problem gamblers have a host of health problems to worry about. From Medical News Today: Gambling is bad for your health and the truly addicted can suffer depression, insomnia, intestinal disorders, migraine and other
Gambling: Bad for you? Read More »
gambling & cultureIt’s always amusing to read things on the Internet, where people can post their thoughts without editorial control or even a spell check. Take for example some excerpts from this post on the moneycontrol.com messsage board: What would you have to return in order to make a chance of 11% a profitable play? Answer: 100/11
Nearly incomprehensible English Read More »
haphazard worldA few weeks ago, I posted a story about how a Hong Kong election was settled by picking ping-pong balls. Well, the tradition of settling tied elections by lot-casting is alive and well much closer to home, in White Pine County, Nevada. From the LVRJ: Ray Urrizaga turned over the queen of clubs. Bob Swetich
Democracy by lot in Nevada Read More »
gambling & cultureIf you’ve called the office, I’ve been out, and for good reason. I gave a guest lecture in Bill Eadington’s econ class up at University of Nevada Reno. It was a great opportunity to talk about some of my new research in world gambling history. I think that Roll the Bones will benefit from my
Often, people from other countries or even other states think that government regulation of gambling is faintly repressive–that the Nevada Control Board works hard to limit gambling in Nevada. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. As this story from the Sun shows, the GCB actually is pushing casinos to attract more gamblers: State
Remember a while back there was a flurry of stories about how seniors that gambled were healthier than those who didn’t? At the time, I predicted that before long there would be another study that contradicted those findings. Well, the other shoe has dropped. Here comes a study, from Yale no less, that claims (based
Young gamblers are losers…statistically speaking Read More »
UncategorizedThe rancorous monthlong strike that pitted Local 54 against7 Atlantic City casinos is over. Given that the new contract is five years, rather than the three wanted by the union, I’d say this was a victory for the casinos, though of course everyone lost with the disruption of the strike. From CBS via AP: The
Let’s say you’re a little short of cash, but you’ve got a gun. No problem, you think. Just walk into a restaurant and hold the place up. It seems like a great plan, until you run into some guys who actually train in physical combat. From Fox News: Russell R. Rogers, 64, walked into Elmer’s
Ultimate Robbery Championship Read More »
haphazard worldIn a real crazy day, where I’m already stretched to the limit, I get this breaking news from the VegasResource.com newsletter: The Key Largo Hotel and Casino, on Flamingo, just 2 blocks east of Bally’s, is closing permanently on January 17, 2005. A developer has bought the property and will demolish the Key Largo and
This past week, for some reason I’ve had every elected Democrat in the state call me at home, begging me to get out and vote for John Kerry. This is curious because I’m registered as a non-partisan and have never donated money to either political party. Yet, for some reason, Kerry’s having all of his
T-shirt fun at political rallies Read More »
haphazard worldBethlehem, Pennsylvania, has been calling itself “Christmas City” for a while now. Click the link to see why. Some there are up in arms about a plan to leave something new under the stocking…a slot parlor. From McCall.com: When some Lehigh Valley leaders began lining up behind a proposal to bring a slot machine parlor
Slots and Christmas don’t mix? Read More »
news about gamblingIt seems that I’m on the road once more. Today, I’m checkling in from the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino in San Diego County. I’m doing some preliminary oral history interviews down here. It’s fascinating stuff. There’s nothing better than being able to listen to people who have been in the gaming industry longer