Page 6 - October 2009 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bill Burton: About Gambling
RDemember It’s Still Gambling
uring the latter part of the 1990’s the term “political correctness” became synonymous with a way of speaking or writing to avoid o ending anyone. Any words or labels that could be considered o ensive or stereotypical were replaced with what some would call
It’s Still Gambling
ere is nothing wrong with visiting casinos and playing the games as a form of entertainment. e casino is an exciting place. But the idea that we are only playing games can cause some players to get caught up in the excitement of the casino atmosphere. When this happens, it is easy to get carried away and gamble more than you should.
We need to remember that when we play any casino game or slot machine, we are gambling. e casino has the edge on all the games, and in the long run, we will more than likely lose more than we will win.
Gambling is a form of entertainment, and you can spend a little or you can spend a lot. In some instances, you might even get paid for your entertainment when you win. Set your entertainment price before you go to the casino and don’t take more than you can a ord to lose.
Whether you are playing or gaming, it’s still gambling. To me the term gambling puts things into the proper perspective. Reminding ourselves of this from time to time will help us play responsibly and get the
most enjoyment out of our casino visits.
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes.. Knowledge Stays Forever.”
Bill Burton is the author of 1000 Best Casino Gambling Secrets and Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available online at www.billburton.com. Burton is also an instructor for Golden Touch Craps: www.thecrapsclub.com..
“neutral” language.
It seems to me that as a society we have become overly sensitive and gone too far to make sure every word we speak is politically correct. However, you can’t argue with the fact that certain words or phrases can evoke strong feelings, positive or negative. Marketing and advertising companies do their best to use political correctness to their advantage, and often use neutral language to change perceptions or feelings toward a product or topic.
From Gambler to Player
Decades ago, the only place in the United States where you could legally gamble was Nevada. If you gambled anywhere outside of Nevada on cards, dice, sporting events or other activities, you were breaking the law. It was also a known fact that organized crime ran most of the casinos. So while it was legal to gamble in Las Vegas, the word gambling still evoked negative feelings for many. If you said that someone was a gambler, this brought up images of a degenerate individual who was wasting his or her life away.
When major business corporations took over the gambling industry and casinos started spreading throughout the country, there was concern about the negative feeling evoked by the word gambling. Something needed to be done to sanitize the activity and change the perception for people who might be o ended by the idea of gambling. Adopting a politically correct term was a start to changing the way people felt about casino gambling.
e gambling industry became the “gaming” industry, and the main attraction of the casinos was the games that people could play for entertainment. To draw focus away from any o ensive perception of people who went to casinos, gamblers became “players.” Changing from gambling to gaming and gambler to player transformed the perception of the gambling industry.
You no longer went to the casino to gamble, but merely to play the games. ere were even players clubs that o ered gamblers valuable rewards for their patronage. is was a pleasant way of saying “We are giving you a rebate on your theoretical losses that you incur while gambling.”
October 2009 Table Games and Slot Tournaments
BARONA RESORT & CASINO
TUESDAYS through FRIDAYS from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. $260,000 VIP Championship Slot Tournament
Club Barona members may play to qualify for the $260,000 Treasures of the World VIP Championship Slot Tournament. Play once per day, Tuesday through Friday in October. e top three scores each day receive an invitation to the championship in November where one lucky person will win the $100,000 Grand Prize.
Rapid Baccarat
Five buck Baccarat is here. Payouts up to 30:1. Experience Barona’s all new Baccarat format, featuring live dealers and personal, interactive betting terminals.
TUESDAY, October 27th through THURSDAY, October 29th Birthday Slot Tournament
Any Club Barona member with a birthday in October can participate in a free slot tournament held October 27th through October 29th, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. e top- scoring daily player wins $1,000, with $500 for second and third place. Just present your id and Club Barona card to play. Winners will have one week to claim prizes.
Barona’s Three Card Poker Progressive Jackpot
Barona’s Three Card Poker Progressive Jackpot keeps growing. When you place a small side bet of $1–$5 on each hand, you are automatically quali ed to win all—or part—of the progressive jackpot. If you receive an Ace- King-Queen of Spades and you have placed the side
bet, you’ll win the entire progressive jackpot. Plus, the top two payouts also trigger “envy bonuses” where all progressive bettors win if anyone at the table receives a premium hand.
Perfect Pairs Blackjack
Double your pleasure, up to 30x the win. Mixed pairs pay 5 to 1; colored pairs pay 10 to 1; and perfect pairs pay an astounding 30 to 1!
CASINO PAUMA
Friday, October 30th
VIP Slot Tournament
Casino Pauma’s monthly VIP slot tournament is open to quali ed invited Palm Club members. Participation is limited to the rst 180 quali ed r.s.v.p. responses. Tournament includes a breakfast bu et, and ve $1,000 cash drawings.
SANTA YSABEL CASINO
SUNDAYS at 7 p.m.
Blackjack Tournament
$50 buy-in and a $1,200 prize pool. 1st place wins $600; 2nd place, $300; 3rd place, $200; and 4th place, $100.
SYCUAN CASINO
$250,000 Blackjack Bonanza
Turn 21 into $250,000 at Sycuan. Beginning October 9th, earn your entries for the $250,000 Blackjack Bonanza by playing your favorite table games and poker. en, every Tuesday and ursday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., winners will be drawn to win $100 and an entry into the Grand Finals on December 10th. During the Grand Finals, 21 winners will get to play Blackjack Bonanza where they could earn up to $250,000.
VALLEY VIEW CASINO
SUNDAY, October 25th at 12 p.m.
The Kings and Queens of Blackjack Tournament
$40 buy in, $20 re-buys, $5,000 guaranteed prize pool. Check-in begins at 11 a.m. All tournament participants receive $20 in Match Play if they are Players Club members. Entries may be purchased at the casino cashier. Tournament space is limited, so buying entries early is recommended. For more information, please call 1-866-view-win.
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
October 2009
Table Games and Slot Tournaments About Gambling with Bill Burton