We are always excited to showcase the best casino restaurants throughout the region. Whether it is a casual oyster bar, or a premium steakhouse with a vast wine selection, we have found some sure bets when it comes to dining on your next casino adventure. Be sure to carve out some time to check a few of these great selections out!
Who’s hungry? We are excited to unveil some of the top casinos and their culinary offerings in this year’s Casino Dining Guide.
If you aren’t carving out time to check out your favorite casinos dining options, you are missing the boat!
Whether you are celebrating something special and go to the white table cloth, fine dining steakhouse, or want something more casual, we have listed some of our top picks for your consideration and think you’ll enjoy them as much as we do!
Craps is the most exciting game in the casinos. Craps players are an interesting and diverse lot too – from working-class men and women betting a small percentage of their incomes, all the way up to the economic elite of society betting tens of thousands of dollars on a single roll of the dice.
“Baby needs a new pair of shoes,” one says. Another says, “I need a new Lear jet!” It doesn’t matter what category you are in, the game holds fascination and thrills galore no matter your betting level.
As a game that allows players to exercise their skill along with having a strong element of chance, blackjack has more subtleties than most casino games. It also leaves plenty of room for question and comment. Let’s try to answer a few questions and relay a few comments submitted by readers.
Since opening in August 2014, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City has welcomed over 5.3 million guests through its doors, making it a premier entertainment destination. Gamers and entertainment seekers alike have flocked to the property for over a decade for the best in gaming and luxurious accommodations. Serving as one of Midwest Gaming’s Preferred Properties, and the recipient of Best Overall Property in our recent Readers’ Choice Awards, we are excited to give our readers an insider’s look at what makes Hard Rock a definite destination property to add to your Summer and Fall travel calendar.
There’s a cancer growing in the game of blackjack, namely, those abominable blackjack games that only pay 6:5 for a blackjack. If players don’t do something about it, 6:5 payoff games may become the new blackjack standard. However, you can help get rid of this game once and for all, and I’ll show you how in a moment.
Historically a blackjack hand has always paid 3:2. That means if you bet $10, you will be paid $15 (a 3:2 payoff). (This assumes, of course, that the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack on the same hand.) When a casino decides to pay only 6:5 for a player blackjack, it increases the house edge by almost 1.4 percent (no, that’s not a typo).
Instead of talking percentages, let’s talk dollars and cents so you can really see how much a 6:5 game costs you. Suppose you play two hours of blackjack at $10 a pop and you are dealt an average of 80 hands per hour. A blackjack occurs about once in every 21 hands, so on average you should expect to get four blackjacks per hour, or a total of eight in two hours. Each of those blackjacks should earn you $15 (with a 3:2 payout on a $10 wager), but instead you get paid only $12 in the 6:5 game. You are shortchanged $3 on every blackjack, so in the course of two hours of play, you have been shortchanged $24. That is an atrocity.
Casinos also love the 6:5 game because it virtually eliminates those pesky card counters, since many find the house edge too tough to beat with card counting. And get this, many casino bosses have implemented the 6:5 payoff in double-, six- and even eight-deck games (no, I’m not joking). This would increase the house edge, on some games, up to an appalling 2%!
The 6:5 games also have these additional pitfalls, which most players are not aware of:1. If you wager an amount that is not divisible by 5, your payoff for a blackjack actually gets worse. For example, if you bet $8 and get a blackjack, you’ll get paid only $9, which is equivalent to the payoff odds of 5.625:5 rather than 6:5 (casinos will pay 6:5 on the first $5 of your wager, and even money for the remaining $3). When the game was first offered, I had bet a red ($5) and pink ($2.50) chip on a hand and luckily I was dealt a blackjack. At 6:5 payoff odds, a $7.50 wager should pay an even $9, but the dealer paid me only $8.50. I tried to politely explain to the dealer and then to the shift boss that 6:5 on $5 is $6, and 6:5 on $2.50 is $3 therefore I should be paid a total of $9. My plea fell on deaf ears.2. In a 3:2 game, a player can take even money if he is dealt a blackjack and the dealer shows an ace. But the math doesn’t work in the casino’s favor on a 6:5 game, so they won’t allow players to take even money.3. The game is mostly offered on low-limit tables in tourist locations where blackjack players tend to be less sophisticated about the game (“milk the tourists” mentality). Knowledgeable players with limited bankrolls are also faced with this dilemma: either play the 6:5 game with lower betting limits, or play the better 3:2 multiple-deck games, but with higher betting limits. If they opt for the latter, they often get less play time because they tap out sooner as a result of overbetting in relation to their modest bankroll. Either way, they get screwed.
The bottom line is that unless players do something about it, the 6:5 game will ultimately ruin blackjack. So what can you do to help? 1. Don’t play any 6:5 blackjack games; instead play only on tables that pay 3:2 for a blackjack. 2. Voice your displeasure about the game to a casino supervisor, your casino host and even the casino manager. Be sure to also tell them you are taking your business to casinos that don’t offer this wretched game.3. Warn your friends and family that are planning to visit a casino, about this outrageous game.
It’s clear that in their attempt to make more money, casinos are ruining one of the best games for players. Don’t let this happen. Just say NO to 6:5 blackjack games!
Author Bio: Henry Tamburin, Ph.D. is the author of the Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide (http://www.888casino.com/blog/blackjack-strategy-guide/), editor of the Blackjack Insider e-Newsletter (www.bjinsider.com), lead instructor for the Golden Touch Blackjack course, and host of smartgaming.com. For a free three-month subscription to his blackjack newsletter, go to www.bjinsider.com/freetrial. To receive his free Casino Gambling Catalog, call 1-888-353-3234 or visit www.smartgaming.com.
With the NFL season right around the corner, it feels like the night before Christmas. How have your favorite teams improved their rosters since last season? Are there key match-ups that you can’t wait for? We are excited to unveil our 2017 NFL Preview outlining some of the rookies we are excited about, veterans and trades, must see match-ups and a few fantasy finds we think you’ll like. So gear up and get ready … because we’re ready for some football!
RISING SUN, INDIANA – Rising Star Casino Resort (a Full House Resorts, Inc. property) opened the Rising Star RV Park, uniquely located near the center of the Rising Star property, convenient to the resort’s casino, golf course and a short stroll from the quaint historical town of Rising Sun.
G&D’s annual Casino Chef Showdown features the Top Casino Chefs from around the region. This online recipe contest started with SEVEN chefs and their creative and tasty recipes. After thousands of votes, we are excited to announce the winning chef and the the Culinary King of the Casino!
There’s always a certain amount of skepticism one has when an entertainer announces his or her retirement. Certain groups and individuals have been on their “Final World Tour!” for 20 years running, and such announcements are often seen as marketing ploys designed to fill seats. So while it was disheartening to hear that performing legend Kenny Rogers was getting ready to retire, and embarking on his final tour, “The Gambler’s Last Deal”, it was refreshing to hear that unlike so many others in show business, he really meant it.
He has certainly made the most of his amazing career.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill Downs announced today it is investing approximately $60 million to construct a state-of-the-art historical racing machine (“HRM”) facility in Louisville, KY. The 85,000-square-foot facility will be built at 4520 Poplar Level Road—Churchill Downs’ former Trackside (also known as the former Sports Spectrum) site, and conveniently located less than half a mile from the Poplar Level Road exit off the Henry Watterson Expressway (I-264). CDI’s request to offer exotic wagering on historical racing was conditionally approved by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on June 20.
Biloxi, Mississippi is one of the fastest growing destinations in the country offering visitors all of the essentials for a great getaway. Miles of white sandy beaches, nearly a dozen great casinos and several historic sites, including Beauvoir, Jefferson Davis’ home when he died, you can’t go wrong with frequent visits. Biloxi is also known for exceptional restaurants showcasing everything from casual beach front fare to authentic French and Italian cuisine, and of course, seafood!
Is horse racing a game of skill or a game of chance? Maybe it’s both. To reach the greatest heights in racing, you not only need great skill, but also a bevy of factors to properly align.
In 2015, American Pharoah proved himself early, overcoming troubled starts and bad weather, while taking down the competition time and time again. After his win in the Kentucky Derby (gr. 1), it was clear this was a special horse that could make his own luck.
RED WING, Minn (May 10, 2017) –The Prairie Island Indian Community broke ground in 2016 on an $86 million dollar project to that would include a number of phases to complete additions and remodeling to the existing Treasure Island Resort & Casino property.
The most recent addition is set to open May 12, to the extremely popular The Lagoon water park. The addition includes 1913 square feet of splashing pool space. The new pool has a number of functions including a lap pool which can double for water volleyball when not being used for laps, an activity area with two in pool basketball hoops and a warm water spa. There is also 2397 square feet of indoor deck space with comfortable fun seating around the new activity pool.
Casinos are known for providing the best for their guests. If you want decadent dining, you’ll find it at a casino. If you want to relax in a world-class spa, you’ll find it at a casino. If you want to catch a concert, you can do it at a casino. There isn’t much you can’t do when you visit your favorite property, and that includes golf. In addition to all of the other amenities, casinos boast some of the best golf courses in the country that rival the elite private courses that are harder to gain access to play.
Bay St. Louis, MS – May 5, 2017 – Silver Slipper Casino Hotel hosted a Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new Silver Slipper Beach Bar & Café! The ceremony took place during a joint Business After Hours event with East St. Tammany and Hancock Chambers of Commerce on Thursday, May 4.
THERE ARE FEW PLACES in the world as eclectic as Kentucky. Known as the horse and bourbon capital of the world, the state is the birthplace of approximately 30 percent of the nation’s horses each year and home to nearly 5 million barrels of aging bourbon. The entire state’s population is only 4.3 million, if that tells you anything.
While many horse farms and bourbon distilleries are scattered throughout the commonwealth, the city of Lexington, located in the heart of the Bluegrass State, has an array of both. In addition, the city is home to Keeneland, one of the most historic racetracks in the country and the world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, where approximately half of the 11 Triple Crown winners have been sold.
It’s time for the biggest horse races of the year… the Kentucky Derby, (May 6), the Preakness Stakes (May 20) and the Belmont Stakes (June 10) … also known as the Triple Crown.
Southern Gaming is offering you a chance to win your share of $500 in this year’s Triple Crown Handicapping Challenge at MyFantasyPaddock.com
There’s a new game in town…and slot players are going to want to get in on the action! Gaming and Destinations has launched a new app for casino players to win comps and special offers to casinos around the country. The app, CompsClubSlots, offers over thirty slot games to play for free and earn reward points to cash in for various comps including free rooms, buffets, and more. The app is available to download for free and can be played on all devices including Apple, Android and facebook.
Property Overview: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sioux City, Iowa is a casino destinations worth going to. The 54-room boutique style hotel is located in the historic Battery Building that was once a drop off stations for trains. The casino has an open and expansive layout and the entertainment line-up is always fantastic. Stroll around the property and check out the array of authentic rock and roll memorabilia displayed while you’re there!
