Atlantic City Casinos Blog

   If you’ve ever dreamed of sitting at the final table in a high-stakes poker tournament while the TV cameras watch every hand and every expression on your face, your chance is coming to Atlantic City later this month. The United States Poker Championship series opened this week at the Taj Mahal.

   Of course, there’s a catch. You have to pay $2,500 or $5,000 in entry fees, and you have to beat all but half a dozen other players to make the televised final table.

   The pot-limit Omaha tournament, with a $2,500 buy-in plus $125 entry fee starts November 14, with the final table being filmed November 23. The No-Limit Texas Hold’Em tournament, with a $5,000 buy-in and $250 entry fee starts November 20, with the final table played out on November 24. Don’t have that kind of money? You can try to win your seat at satellite tournaments held throughout the week where entry fees are lower. The final table shows will air on the Spike Network.

   Log on to http://www.trumptaj.com/media/docs/tajMahal/USPCSchedule.pdf to see the entire schedule of events. You can reserve your spot at www.ptseats.com or in person at the Taj Mahal.

   If tournament play isn’t your bag, come on down to the Taj Mahal anyway. A lot of big-name players will be in town, and the poker room is setting up some high-limit cash games to keep them occupied while not in a contest. Most are willing to sign autographs and pose for pictures if you don’t bother them while they’re actually playing.

     Many people come to Atlantic City as a break from the stress of their daily lives. Well, Resorts just made it easier to relax and get pampered.

    A new Chinese massage spot opened in Resorts. It’s in the lobby near the boardwalk end, across from the Destination Club merch shop. It’s a lot nicer than the similar facilities you’ll find on the boardwalk or in malls, with a comfortable lobby and nice panels separating the treatment areas. For those of you smirking inwardly, this is totally legitimate massage.

   The good thing is, the going rates are the same as most joints in the mall or on the boardwalk. It costs about a dollar a minute to have someone work the stress out of those tired muscles. And even better news, you can use your comp dollars to pay for it.

   Just because you’re too old to go door-to-door begging for candy doesn’t mean you can’t dress up for Halloween. And if you choose to spend the holiday in Atlantic City, the fine establishments of the town will give you plenty of opportunities to have fun, and maybe win some cash for your creativity.

   Two points to note, however. Your costume can’t have a mask if you plan to wear it on the casino floor. Security wants to know exactly who you are in case you drink too much magic brew and do something illegal. Also, you need a player’s card to participate in some of the promotions.

   The Quarter at the Tropicana seems to be the most hopping place Halloween night. There will be a costume contest in the Fiesta Plaza at 11 p.m., player’s card required to register. In addition several of the restaurants in the Quarter and the plaza at the Boardwalk side of the casino will have their own costume contests and other specials.

   Dress up at Boogie Nights at Resorts starting at 9 p.m. both Friday and Saturday nights. Prizes will be awarded for the best get-ups. If you head to the casino, earning one cashback point entitles you to a free t-shirt, and two points gets you a long-sleeved shirt to keep you warm for the coming winter. The buffet will become a boo-fet, and player card holders get a $3 discount.

   If you want to make mischief Friday night, the Hard Rock Cafe at the Taj Mahal is having a costume party starting at 9 p.m. Dusk nightclub at Caesars is also holding a party that night, and is asking people to wear red.

   On the big night itself, there will be a party at The Pool at Harrah’s starting at 10 p.m., with the cast of “Twilight.” There’s probably an admission charge, but sorry, I don’t know what that is. The Casbah at the Taj Mahal is having a “Release Your Inner Wild Child” costume party starting at 10:30 p.m., and Club Worship at the Showboat’s party starts at 9 p.m. All three nightclubs (mixx, mur.mur and Gypsy Bar) at the Borgata will have costume parties with a Playboy theme.

   And for you poor souls that have work or other obligations Saturday night, all is not lost. mum.mur at Borgata will hold a costume party Monday night, November 2, so you don’t miss out on all the fun.

  Happy hauntings!

   I went to Resorts Saturday night to pick up a gift that was offered - a bottle of designer rum. OK, I don’t drink rum, but I know I can find someone who will enjoy it. Plus, they were sticking papers with good prizes inside randomly selected bottles, and I could use some more slot cash or a fancy electronic gizmo.

   After playing for about half an hour, I went upstairs to get on line. The line stretched almost to the connector into the Taj Mahal. It moved kind of slowly. I timed it, and it was 50 minutes from when I got on line to when I stepped up to the desk to get served. I saw there were only six people working at the table to help the players. By that time, of course, they had run out of rum, and were offering either a rain check or $25 in slot play. I took the rain check. My reasoning was, I wasn’t waiting in line for almost an hour to have $25 slip into the maw of their video-poker machines in 10 or 15 minutes.

   All right, I can understand them underestimating the number of people who would respond. But waiting an hour to pick up a prize is a dumb move on the casino’s part. If a couple hundred people, all good enough players to warrant this offer, are waiting in line for an hour, they’re not feeding the machines or betting chips at the tables. And this happens quite often in Atlantic City. A friend and I waited an hour to pick up gifts from Bally’s earlier this month, and that was a line for Diamond players only.

    Far be it from me to tell casinos how to run their business. But it doesn’t take a Harvard MBA to figure out that they should want their players at the machines and tables for that hour, not waiting in line. How about having employees on standby to be called in for overtime (or part-time work) if the demand for a promotion is greater than anticipated? How about getting a temp agency to provide people with last-minute work opportunities if the lines get long? In today’s economy, I’m sure plenty of people would be willing to come in on a moment’s notice to earn some extra money. It had to have cost Resorts more in lost revenue while their best players waited on line than they saved by having only six people working the desk.

   To Resorts’ credit, they said prize slips will be randomly inserted into the rum packages given to those who took rain checks. The odds of winning will be the same as they were on Saturday. Most other places in Atlantic City aren’t as considerate of their players. If they run out of the gift you wanted by time you reach the table, you’re usually out of luck.

   At first, the news seemed great. At a time when many casinos are reducing their full-pay video-poker inventory, the Taj Mahal put in a bank of multi-denomination machines with 9/6 Jacks or Better and 8/5 Bonus Poker. A friend and I went to check them out, looked at the paytables, and there they were.

   We were playing for a bit, and then I hit a 4-of-a-kind playing Bonus Poker. My friend looked at the screen, and saw I got only 100 credits for the score, not the usual 125. I double-checked the top of the paytable, and sure enough, you got only 100 credits for 4-of-a-kind instead of 125, with a bonus for queens, kings and aces. Oops! I switched back to Jacks or Better, played along a while, and then saw that a 5-coin royal flush pays only 2,500 coins instead of 4,000. So if you’re lucky enought to hit the royal, you get ripped off.

   No, thank you. I decided to cut my losses, cash out and head to the real full-play machines next door.

   More of these puppies may be popping up in Atlantic City, so keep your eyes open. The Taj Mahal banked on players checking only the bottom part of the pay table before we put in our money, because that’s where most short-pay games short the player. My friend and I fell for the ruse and forgot to carefully check the top half of the paytable as well.

   So before you play a new video-poker machine - or even an old favorite - be sure check out the entire paytable before you push the “deal” button.

   An acquaintance of mine was playing in Bally’s last week, when a couple near him lined up the three 7s on the slot machine for a $2,500 jackpot. Not bad. The slot attendant came over, and asked for ID because it was more than the $1,200 the IRS requires to be reported. The guy didn’t have it on him. The woman had hers, but since he was the one seated in the chair, the attendant said the money had to go to him. He did get a receipt that he hit the jackpot, and was told to come back with his ID to claim the money.

   That’s an extra pain for him, especially if he lives far away from Atlantic City. I don’t know if he ever went back to collect it.

   Be forewarned. Always carry ID and be prepared to give your Social Security number if you hit a slot jackpot for more than $1,200. If you hit, the IRS-mandated policy is simple: No ID, no money. Residents of other countries will have to show a passport or other official identification - and prepare to leave a lot of their money to Uncle Sam. If you don’t have ID on you or don’t want the IRS to be involved with your gambling transactions, play games with lower jackpots.

   Attention foodies! There are a couple events coming up in Atlantic City that you’ll want to know about.

   “A Taste of Emeril’s” opens October 21 at the Circus Maximus theater at Caesars and runs through November 12. Hosted by Marc Summers, guests will be picked from the audience to come on stage and show off their culinary talents. (I hope they don’t pick me, if I go, because I’d probably burn the place down.)  Celebrity chef Emeril LaGasse will offer contestants help by video feed. People called on stage have a chance to win some nice prizes, like meals in gourmet rooms at Caesars or on the shopping pier. Everyone in the audience will get to sample the results.

   Show time is 2 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. There will also be 7 p.m. shows Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7. Tickets are $35 and available through Ticketmaster.

   If you’d rather eat the good food than try to cook it, you’ll want to be at the Borgata the evening of November 7.  Savor Borgata will be held at the Water Club, and chefs famous and not-so-famous will be in attendance. That includes Bobby Flay, Michael Mina, Wolfgang Puck and the chefs from the Borgata’s other fine eateries. Each restaurant will host its own station, where guests can meet the chefs and sample some items off the menu. Flemings Jenkins Vineyards & Winery will provide the grape juice to go with each sampling.

   It all gets underway at 7 p.m. Tickets are $125 each and can be purchased by calling 1.866.900 4TIX (4849) or logging on to www.theborgata.com. Yes, it’s kind of pricey in a rough economy. But my foodie friends who have the discretionary cash say these events are well worth it.

Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort, in association with Dee Lee Promotions Inc. presents The Fall Brawl at Trump Taj Mahal. Prince Badi ‘Boxing Prince’ Ajamu (27-3-1/4 ko’s) defends his National Boxing Association Light Heavyweight Title against Otis ‘Triple OG’ Griffin (20-6-2/4 ko’s) on Friday, November 20, 2009 in the Grand Ballroom at the Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ. First bout is at 8:00 pm with doors opening one hour prior.

NBA Light Heavyweight Champion Prince ‘Boxing Prince’ Ajamu (27-3-1/4 ko’s) Camden, NJ vs Otis ‘Triple OG’ Griffin (20-6-2/4 ko’s) Sacramento, CA will defend his belt in a 12 round NBA Light Heavyweight Championship bout.  Ajamu will once again defend the belt he retained in a hard fought 12 round unanimous decision over DeAndrey Abron this past July in Atlantic City.  Griffin, the winner of the Oscar De La Hoya’s Fox TV Reality series ‘The Next Great Champ’ does come to fight and he does fight often.  This will be his 4th fight in 2009 and he is fresh off a 6 round TKO of Ernesto Castanado in September so he’s riding high and looking for a fresh belt.

This fight card is loaded with talent and features some of the best up and coming fighters in New Jersey including Atlantic City’s own Qa’id ‘Q’ Muhammad (5-0-0/5 ko’s).  Some of the area’s other rising young stars like light heavyweight Chuck ‘The Professor’ Mussachio (13-1-2/5 ko’s) and fellow light heavyweight Pat Perez (25-7-0/14 ko’s) will be lacing them up and showing just how tough it is to come to the boardwalk in the fall.  Local fight fans that have been getting spoiled watching Eugene Soto, Joel De La Paz, and Gabriel ‘Gabby’ Pham take on all comers are in for another treat as all three will also be featured on this card along with Philadelphia’s Olivia Fonseca and Delaware’s tough guy Mike Tiberi (10-0-0).  These fighters aren’t afraid to mix it up so, do plan to come to enjoy the action.

Caesars Atlantic City is giving everyone the opportunity to step into Emeril Lagasse’s Kitchen. “Taste of Emeril’s” is a fast-paced, intriguing, and often hilarious food competition and cooking demonstration, where contestants can win great prizes including chances to experience the finest restaurants at Caesars Atlantic City and The Pier Shops.  The culinary action, hosted by Marc Summers, will pit audience members against one another, as they compete for top spots as assistant chefs. Emeril will welcome guests and assist competitors via on-screen video.

“Taste of Emeril’s” will debut at Caesars Circus Maximus Theatre on October 21st, and will run for four weeks closing on November 12th. The competition is a first of its kind cooking challenge that sees audience members compete in a fully interactive cooking contest as seen on popular TV shows.  Members of the audience will need to pay close attention because you never know… anyone may be called to the stage to see how his or her culinary skills measure up.

“Caesars strives to give its customers exclusive entertainment experiences. ‘Taste of Emeril’s’ will give customers the opportunity to see first hand, what it’s like to cook in Emeril’s Kitchen” said Joe Domenico, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Caesars Atlantic City.  In addition to the cooking competition, each and every audience member will get the chance to taste of one of Emeril’s menu items featured in the show.  “Taste of Emeril’s” is sure to thrill all in attendance and with plenty of prizes to give away, it is an interactive experience for everyone…and anyone can win!

Audiences can catch “Taste of Emeril’s” Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 2 p.m. and Thursdays at 7 p.m. There will be additional shows on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets for “Taste of Emeril’s Cooking Challenge” are on sale now for $35.  Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling 800-736-1420 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

The Madness Returns for Three Big-Money Days!
Money Machine Madness is back by popular demand. And it’s time to start racking up your entries for a chance to step into the Machine to grab your share of $150,000. Play your favorite games now–October 12 using your Trump One Card. Then join us on October 10 and 11, from 2 p.m.–10 p.m. and again on October 12, from noon–6 p.m. The action is in the 5th Avenue Slot Area. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you’ll step into the machine for 60 seconds and grab as much flying cash as you can! We’re randomly selecting winners every 10 minutes, and there’s a total of $150,000 up for grabs. Literally. Plus, increase your chances by racking up triple the entries. Simply play at Trump Plaza on October 6, and you’ll earn 3X entries. Who knows? You might be one of the lucky players to grab your share…right out of the air.

Fall Into Something New!
What’s the latest fall accessory to get you the best Cash Back, dining, entertainment, rooms and more in Atlantic City? The Trump One Card, of course! And now, new Trump One Members who sign up at Trump Plaza will receive $50 in Bonus Slot Dollars. Just sign up, play and earn 20 tier points to be eligible.  New members will receive $25 Bonus Slot Dollars on the day they enroll and $25 Bonus Slot Dollars to play with on your next visit.

New Trump One Card Members will also receive a FREE Trump Advantage Pass, filled with valuable discount offers for dining, shopping and salon services at all three Trump Atlantic City Properties. Get yours today when you sign up for a new Trump One Card.

Engelbert Humperdinck
Don’t miss the legendary Engelbert Humperdinck as he makes a very special return to the Trump Plaza Theatre on Friday, October 9 and Saturday, October 10. You’ll enjoy all of his classic hits in this special two-night engagement. Often dubbed “The King of Romance,” Engelbert Humperdinck is known for his smooth voice and heartfelt ballads. The five-time Grammy nominee has legions of fans around the world, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and has sold more than 100 million records internationally. For the last 40 years, countless audiences have enjoyed hits such as “Release Me,” “There Goes My Everything,” “A Man Without Love,” and “After the Lovin’.” Don’t miss the silky-smooth crooner as he takes the stage at Trump Plaza. Show time is at 9 p.m. on both nights and tickets are priced at $75.

The Man in Black—is in the Theatre
Shawn Barker and a super-talented group of musicians and singers take us on a journey of Johnny. Johnny Cash. “The Man in Black—a Tribute to Johnny Cash” will be in the Trump Plaza Theatre on one night only: Friday, October 16. This astounding homage to the legendary Cash captures the entertainment icon, from the unmistakable look to the distinct sound. Johnny Cash was one of the biggest country music stars. But he transcended that by spanning generations—and even crossed genre lines giving him a fan base that was young and old and as diverse as his music. Don’t miss this special one-night performance starring Shawn Barker. Show time is at 9 p.m. and tickets are priced at $25.

$250,000 Royal Flush Sweepstakes
Trump Plaza is pulling out all the stops with the $250,000 Royal Flush Sweepstakes, on Saturday, November 28, 2009. Play your favorite slots or table games from October 13 through November 28 to earn entries. For every 20 tier points you earn each day, you will receive an entry.

Then on November 28, simply deposit all of your entries into the drum located in front of the 5th Avenue Slot Area. Five lucky guests will be drawn at 8pm and 10pm. Each contestant will choose 5 cards from a set of 20. Contestants are guaranteed $250 Bonus Slot Dollars with a chance to win as much as $250,000 for dealing themselves a Royal Flush! It’s a prize fit for King (or a Queen)!