Page 7 - March 2005 • Southern California Gaming Guide

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
Third Season of World Poker Tour Debuts
On March 2nd the World Poker Tour will begin its third season on the Travel Channel with a record prize pool of more than $70 million. e sixteen episodes will air every Wednesday at 9 p.m. and will be broadcast
in more than 50 countries. Two new tournaments have been added to the tour, the Mirage Poker Showdown and the Doyle Brunson North American Poker Championship at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.
NBC to Air New Texas Hold’em NTournament
BC announced last month it will lm the National Heads-Ups Poker Championship, a showdown between 64 players at the Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas in early March. e event features a $1.5 million
purse and will air on four consecutive Sundays in May from 9 a.m.–10 a.m. e new Texas Hold’em tournament will conclude with a two-hour nale in May 22. Unlike other televised poker events, the format will be head-to-head competition with a single elimination. Players will have a $20,000 buy-in, and the over-all winner will receive $500,000. e eld of players will include very recognizable poker stars including Doyle Brunson, Howard Lederer, Johnny Chan and World Series of Poker champions Chris Moneymaker and Greg Raymer.
ARelax at AmBience Day Spa at Barona Valley Ranch
Casino Pauma Adds 215 Exciting New Slots!
This month Casino Pauma is adding 7,200 sq. ft. of additional gaming space adjacent to the existing casino
with 215 new video slots, bringing Casino Pauma’s slot total to 1,050 machines. The new slots include some of the most exciting interactive games, including Geisha, Eagle Rock, Double Dolphins, White Water, After Hours, Apollo Coffee, Go Ape, Paris Lights, Follow the Stars, and Diamond Eyes. Casino Pauma’s slots, including video poker, and video keno machines range from a penny to five dollar denominations.
Trump 29 Casino Renamed ISpotlight 29 Casino
n early February the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians formally renamed their casino in Coachella the Spotlight 29 Casino. Formerly known as Trump 29 Casino, the Tribe successfully met goals set by the Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act and completed a planned buyout of Trump Casino’s management contract months ahead of schedule. e Tribe is celebrating ten years in the gaming business, and chose to revert to the original name of its property, Spotlight 29 Casino, to re ect its successful business history.
mBience Day Spa at Barona Valley Ranch Resort men and women provide complete pampering care. AmBience Day Spa and Casino is now open seven days a week. Receive hours are Monday through ursday, 9:30 a.m to 7 p.m.; Friday and the ultimate spa experience in a nurturing and peaceful Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m to 6 p.m. In-room massages
environment. Services include European facials, massages, are available seven days a week. Call (619) 328-4772 for appointments body wraps, re exology, waxing, no-sun bronzing, manicures, and detailed information.
pedicures, plus make-up application. Fabulous spa packages for
Palm Springs Walk-a-Thon Kicks Off National Problem Gambling Awareness Week
The California Council on Problem Gambling (CCPG) is hold- ing its Sixth Annual 5K Walk-a- on on March 6, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Sunrise Park, Palm Springs. e event is a kick-
o for the annual National Problem Gambling Awareness Week (NPGAW), March 6–12. Proceeds of the Walk-a- on will bene t the California Problem Gambling Helpline (1-800-GAMBLER).
NPGAW is a nationwide campaign to increase public and profes- sional awareness of problem gambling issues.
NPGAW also publicizes the availabil-
ity of services for those a ected by
problem gambling.
e Walk-a- on begins at 9 a.m.,
near Mizell Senior Center in Palm Springs,
at the corner of Sunrise Way and Ramon Road. e event is
free to the public. ere is a suggested $10 pledge per walker, and all donations are tax-deductible. All pledge participants receive a free T-shirt and other items. To register for the Walk-a- on, call (760) 320-0234 or you may obtain a registration form online at www.calproblemgambling.org.
According to CCPG Acting Executive Director Bruce Roberts, “ e California Problem Gambling Helpline is among the most crit-
ical resources for those a ected by problem gambling.” Sta ed by trained professionals, the helpline has been a lifeline for gamblers, their family and friends since 1998.“ e helpline has supported thou- sands of Californians troubled by problem gambling,” Roberts said.
CCPG is a 501(c)(3) nonpro t organization dedicated to assisting problem gamblers and their families, and to
promote awareness, education, research, prevention and treatment for prob- lem gambling. e council has been
in existence since 1986, and is one of 36 state a liates of the National Council on
Problem Gambling.
e organization, located in Palm Springs, is funded by voluntary
contributions from businesses and other interested parties, and does not take a position for or against legalized gambling. e council pro- vides a problem gambling helpline, literature distribution, speakers bureau, clinical training and employee awareness training.
March 2005 Page 7
Gaming News (Continued)