Page 6 - January 2004 • Southern California Gaming Guide

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Happy New Year! Iby Bill Burton
want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Happy New Year! Each year at this time I sit down and re ect on the past year and make plans for the year to come. Many people make New Year’s resolutions, but I prefer to set goals. Resolutions are usually aimed at correcting some sort of negative
behavior. On the other hand, goals are designed to have you work toward something that will have a positive outcome. It has been proven that resolutions usually fall by the wayside within a month or two because you are dwelling on the negative. You are more likely to stick with and accomplish a goal you are working toward because you are focusing on the positive instead of the negative.
Column: Bill Burton About Gambling
Page 6
January 2004
How about you? Have you set any goals for the NewYear?
Gambling has expanded quite a bit in the Southern California area. Have you visited a new casino lately? We sometimes get into a habit of just playing at one casino because we feel comfortable in known territory. However, if you never venture out to try new places you may be missing some great experiences. Why not set a goal to visit all of the casinos in your area. If there is only one casino that is convenient for you to visit, then you can still have a little variety by trying a new restaurant or playing a new game or slot machine.
Many times we get stuck playing the same old game each time we visit the casino. Variety is the spice of life, and it’s nice to be able to have a little variation, especially if you will be spending a few days in a casino destination. Maybe this is the year
you would like to learn how to play a new casino game. It’s fun and it will add a new dimension to your casino visits. ose of you who play only slots may want to learn how to play video poker or a table game. Players who already play the table games may want to learn a new game. Kitchen table poker players may want to try their hand at casino poker. ere are plenty of opportunities to expand your horizons and try something new at the casino.
Start Your Gambling Log
A while ago I wrote about keeping a gambling log for tax purposes. It’s easy to start a log at the beginning of a new year, so January 1st is the day to start yours. is may be the year you hit a jackpot over $1,199 that will require the casino to give you a W-2G form. A proper log should contain:
1) e type of game and serial number of the machine you played.
2) e date and location where you played.
3)Yourwinsandlossesforeachsessionorgame. 4) Additional evidence of gambling activities.
Start your logbook today and set your goal to ll it out each time you visit the casino. When you hit that jackpot this year you will be glad you did.
Again, I would like to wish you a very Happy and Healthy New Year. No matter what games you play in the casino, I hope you have fun!!
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes... Knowledge Stays Forever!”
Bill Burton is the Casino Gambling Guide and columnist for the Internet portal About. com. He also writes for several national gambling publications. He is the author of Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available for $15 postage paid, at Bill Burton,