Casino Cage

I played "Rome The Golden Age" slots on Borgata online casino. The game logo features the laurel wreath crown. In ancient Greece and Rome the laurel wreaths were worn around the head as signs of victory in pursuits of sports, music and poetry. In Rome in was also worn as a sign of victory in battle. Many Roman emperors have been depicted wearing crowns, which was common but not for every day wear. The term to rest on one's laurels comes from this crown, it means to be happy with a previous success but making no effort for continued success. We see two large marble statues which were common decorations for gardens and baths. Marble had the ability to take finely carved detail. At the height of the Roman Empire it was transported from quarries though out the Mediterranean.  The tiger is a favorite animal of Circus Maximus and the Colosseum. Tigers were hunted in Asia and transported to Rome. The tigers would then be part of a staged hunt, called venationes. Some would be us...

  In fall 2019 I visited Tioga Downs Casino Resort in Nichols, New York with Poker Mike. Read Mike's review on Professional RakeBack . The resort is located roughly 30 minutes from Binghamton, New York. The casino has slots, table games, a poker room, and sports betting. In addition there is harness horse racing, a golf course, fine dining, a buffet, and a shuttle to antiquing barns on the property. You may want to book a stay in their hotel and take advantage of the full experience. I really enjoyed the Fan Duel sports lounge. There is comfortable seating, multiple screens to watch any game where betting is being offered. Both machine betting and bet sheets with an in person teller. Food and beverages are also available for purchase, with table (chair) waiter service.  I played slots but no table games. There was a wide selection to choose from, all of which are listed on their website . I signed up for their players rewards and took advantage of the new player bonus. They a...

As a fan of the History channel's Pawn Stars TV show, I plan to visit while I'm in Las Vegas. The official name of the store is " The World Famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop ." You can actually browse and shop online if your interested. I would like to be on the show while I'm in Vegas, and the best way to do that is to make an appointment in advance. To make an appointment you should email them at pawnstars@gspawn.com , including in the subject the item you are interested in selling and including the dates you will be in town in the body of the message. You can also try the online chat for help selling an item or valuing an item. I have not narrowed down what I'd like to sell, but as a frequent antique and garage sale customer I do have a lot to choose from. I also plan to stop off at Pawn Plaza next door to meet Rick Harrison and Chumlee. Rick owns a BBQ restaurant that he bartends at on Friday and Saturday nights. Chumblee own's a candy shop and his sch...

 I've always loved ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman themed slots. After a trip to Rome in 2019 and visiting the Colosseum, Palatine Hill and Roman forum my fascination of the Roman culture has only grown. I recently joined a new meetup group devoted to the Roman Empire. Since the group is new currently members are posting ideas on the message board. My contribution was that I volunteered to be the Roman Slots expert in the group. Please look for a series of upcoming posts on this subject. The Group Description.

 With most decks you are purchasing a "mystery deck." There maybe advertising,  which typically shows the face cards.  There maybe art on the pip (number) cards,  but it's usually unknown until you open a deck. Some decks will use the standard face cards,  while most will have some unique take on the standard.  I purchased a set of two Levi's decks on ebay for $9 with free shipping.  This was an "offer" which the seller accepted and cheaper then the list price.  The joker cards are a nice take on the Levi's button found on their jeans and denim jackets. The face cards are unique because they are only two colors. Black & white for the spades and clubs. Red & white for the hearts and diamonds. I think this is a very classic deck. Even thought the pip cards had no original art, it's still a nice addition to my collection.  Here is their classic logo on the reverse side of the deck. The trademark shows two horses attempting to pull apart ...

 Atlantic City has always been my favorite local day trip. I've been taking the bus to Atlantic City for about 15 years. Usually the bus is filled with older people and retirees, but I have no problem sharing the bus with them. They are quiet and well behaved. There seems to be a stigma associated with taking the bus, especially with those between the ages of 20-40 years old. I do agree that if you are staying over night it is probably best to drive, that gives you more flexibility with your arrival and departure time.  The pros of taking the bus are you don't need to pay for a full tank of gas for your trip, you don't have to pay tolls, you can nap on the bus, the bus has wi-fi, you can drink in Atlantic City and not worry about having to drive home, you are given slot credits and sometimes dining credits. The bus generally costs $30 to $40 dollars for a roundtrip ticket. You are given a choice of 2 or 3 casinos to depart at, upon departure you will be greeted by a guest h...

 Anytime you go to a Casino you should sign up for their Players or Rewards Card. Even if you don't play often, from time to time there are promotions and rewards available to all Card Holders. If you forget to bring your cards, make sure to visit player services and get a new card printed before playing. Any wagers with out your card can not be added after. You will also be signed up for their mailing list and email list if you provide an email. This is a great way to see which dates are offering promotions and multipliers for your play. Your tier level can earn you free and discounted rooms, dining credits, gifts, and even free slot play.

 Having played in a league for 5 years I was unfamiliar with "the Ante" in online poker games. For weeks I thought this was a one time fee to play, until I found myself short stacked with my chips diminishing greatly every hand. The Ante is not paid once per game, or even once per level, the Ante is taken with every hand. It maybe hard to notice in earlier rounds, since it starts low. Once you are losing 100 chips per hand, it becomes more noticeable. Please take the ante into consideration when counting how many hands you have left to play.  The Ante  Rake belongs to the house and is also considered the fee for playing. In poker they  the ante is general charged during tournaments, although there are some cash games that require an ante. CORRECTION: The ante is paid by every player before the hand begins (before the blinds are posted). It is collected by the dealer and added to the pot. It does not belong to the house. A variation of this is the Big Blind Ante, in w...

 In 1990 Casino Gambling became legal in Mississippi and Biloxi started to reinvent itself as a gaming destination. Biloxi currently has 11 casinos, most of which were build in the 90's and rebuilt or renovated in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina. You can expect a beach town with modern casinos and a fishing/seafood culture.  I visited Biloxi for the fist time in May 2021, for a short 4 day trip with Poker Mike. Read Mike's article on Professional RakeBack . I have to say 4 days was not nearly enough time. There are historical sites, museums, the beach, boat charters, coastal island day-trips, seafood restaurants, arcades, and more. Biloxi, MS is part of the Gulf Coast man made beach. It's small but extends for miles, there is free parking and free entry. You will see some stands to rent beach chairs, kayaks, and giant tricycles. The inexpensive Beach Comber can take you to the beach and in between casinos for a small fee. Don't be fooled, the Beach Comber is a bus not a bo...

 Atlantic City has a new Arcade called "The Lucky Snake." It opened May 15th in the Showboat Hotel to positive reviews. The arcade features both new and vintage games from the 80s and 90s. In addition to virtual reality, miniature golf and other boardwalk style games. The arcade is over 100,000 square feet, taking up most of the former gaming floor. This adds another family friendly attraction to the no longer struggling North Beach .

 I have been playing poker for about 8 years. It's was only natural that I would start collecting decks of cards. Playing card art is loved and appreciated by gamers and non-gamers equally. For decades The United States Playing Card Company and Bicycle have been the largest producers of decks in the United States. In 2019 The USPC Company was bought out and rolled into the Bicycle Company. I belong to a Bicycle card collectors group, but I do not collect Bicycle decks exclusively. While I can appreciate the variety and am impressed by the volume of cards in these collections, there is more to collecting then purchasing every deck issued by one company. I have built my collection through shopping at thrift stores, garage sales, dollar stores, souvenir shops, museum gift shops, ebay, Kickstarter funding, and purchasing decks while on vacation in foreign countries. I recommend thinking outside the box if you decide to start collecting, the possibilities are endless. I have a friend th...