Page 22 - January 2005 • Southern California Gaming Guide

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Whale Hunt In the Desert: The Secret Las Vegas of Super Host
Steve Cyr by Deke Castleman
Reviewed by Jean Scott, “Queen of Comps,” author of Frugal Gambling and More Frugal Gambling
Editor’s Note: is month we debut Gaming Guide Media Picks, wherein writers and players will review
gaming books, software, videos, and gaming tools. is month, Jean Scott reviews Whale Hunt in the Desert: I e Secret Las Vegas of Superhost Steve Cyr by Deke Castleman.
just heard about a woman named Julie Andrew who came to Las Vegas in 1990 at the age of 53 with a net worth of $450,000. irteen years later, a hotel housekeeper found her 27 hours after she took a deliberate overdose of sleeping pills, with $4.50 to her name.
thing di erent about a gambler who bets $50,000 a hand from a gambler who bets $5 a hand is $49,995. And Whale Hunt backs this up with dozens of stories
about high rollers.
But where Castleman’s book really shines is when
he delves into the psychology of gambling. He explains that the opening of the Mirage in 1989 blew the lid off the pent-up demand for gambling in this country, and casino expansion is a rapidly growing phenomenon across the nation. But very few people have much of a handle on the implications of gambling for society.“WhaleHunt”examines these implications and answers some of the questions about the psychology of gambling. Whale Hunt in the Desert will not only give you a peek into the fantasy world of the super-rich gambler,
but will open your eyes to the need for sensible gambling at any level.
of 9s on top or better), Mini Baccarat (any tie) and Double Baccarat (any 9 on top or better).
CASINO PAUMA
FRIDAYS, SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS at 4:00 p.m. Texas Hold’em Tournament
Registration opens at 2:30p.m. each day and is limited to 33 entrants. $5 buy-in receives $1,000 in tournament chips; $5 bounties; $5 re-buys receive
$500 in tournament chips with unlimited re-buys during rst three limit rounds. $10 add-on receives $2,000 in chips at end of third limit round only.
BARONA VALLEY RANCH
Round-the-Clock Poker Action in Poker Room Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino features a
15-table, non-smoking poker room with $3/$6, $4/$8, $8/$16 and No-Limit Texas Hold’em and High-Low Stud. Hot Seat: Every day from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., one table and seat number will be drawn every 30 minutes. If a quali ed player occupies the seat, he or she wins $100. If the seat is not occupied by a quali ed player, a new table and seat number will be drawn. Rack Attacks: Sunday through ursday night from 6:15 p.m. to 4:15 a.m., one table will be randomly drawn to have $100 added to the next pot, every other hour.DoubleJackpots:MondaythroughFridayfrom 4 a.m. to 6 a.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Julie survived, and today she’s a crusader for the prevention of the deadly disease from which she su ered: gambling addiction. She warns that seniors are especially susceptible to establishing a destructive relationship with gambling.
I’ve looked into the psychology of gambling and there isn’t much written about it. Why do people gamble? Where does the gambling urge come from? How does one person become compulsive while another can take it or leave it? Is gambling a psychological question? A
genetic question? A moral question? A legal question? In my research, I found virtually no one even asking these questions, let alone answering them. But they are addressed well in a new book called Whale Hunt in the Desert by Deke Castleman, senior editor of Las Vegas-based Huntington Press, which also publishes
my own books.
SYCUAN RESORT & CASINO MONDAYS
$1,000 Guaranteed Limit Texas Hold’em at 10 a.m. $13 buy-in, no re-buys.
“WhaleHunt”isaboutgambling and gamblers on both sides of the tables. On the casino side, it’s about hosts, the hard-charging casino marketing executives who cater to high rollers and whales, the highest of high rollers. Hosts seduce players with the super perks, like round-trips in casino jets, penthouse villas, shopping sprees, private dinner parties, even promotional chips worth up to $250,000 just to walk into the casino.
On the player side of the tables
are the big gamblers. And if you think they’re di erent from you and me, this book will surprise you. e only
POKER PLAYS
$3,000 Guaranteed No Limit Texas Hold’em at 6 p.m. $13 buy-in, $10 re-buy/add-on.
SUNDAYS
$1,250 Guaranteed Limit Texas Hold’em at 10 a.m.
$8 buy-in.
$1,500 Guaranteed Limit Texas Hold’em at 6 p.m. $18 buy-in.
PAI GOW WINTER CASH GIVEAWAY
Win up to $3,000 through January 16th!
Monday through Friday at 7 p.m., 9 p.m., 11 p.m., and
1a.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 3p.m., 5p.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m. Earn your tickets two hours before the rst drawing times in Pai Gow for Pai Gow (Pair
FREE No Limit Texas Hold’em Tournament at 6:30 p.m. $5 re-buys, one $10 add-on, $1,500 guaranteed. Free food bar for all players from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
TUESDAYS
$1,000 Guaranteed No Limit Texas Hold’em at 10 a.m.
$13 buy-in, no re-buys.
$2,000 Guaranteed No Limit Texas Hold’em at 6:30 p.m. $13 buy-in, $10 re-buys/add-on. $2,000 guaranteed.
WEDNESDAYS
$1,000 Guaranteed Limit 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo 10 a.m.
$13 buy-in, no re-buys.
THURSDAYS
No Limit Texas Hold’em Tournament at 10 a.m.
$13buy-infor$1,000chips;$5re-buysfor$1,000chips;
$10 add-on for $3,000 chips. $1,500 guaranteed.
$2,000 Guaranteed No Limit Texas Hold’em at 6:30 p.m. $13 buy-in, $10 re-buys and one $10 add-on.
FRIDAYS
$1,000 Guaranteed No Limit Texas Hold’em at 10 a.m.
$13 buy-in, no re-buys.
$3,500 Guaranteed No Limit Texas Hold’em at 6:30 p.m. $25 buy-in, $20 re-buy/add-on.
SATURDAYS $2,000GuaranteedNoLimitTexasHold’emat10a.m.
$13 buy-in, $10 re-buys, $10 add-on.
Page 22 January 2005
January 2005 Poker Plays Gaming Guide Media Picks