Perks and Picks
H. Scot Krause
Santa Ana Star Casino in New Mexico offers six tables of live poker action open daily. Besides an end of the month tournament, they offer several good daily and weekly tournaments such as the Sunday Poker Tournaments, held every Sunday beginning at 5:00 p.m. Play 2 hours anytime between noon and 5:00 p.m. on the day of the tournaments andreceive $500 extra chip-play. Play 2 hours after the tournament and receive $500 extra chips for following week. The game is No-Limit Texas Hold-’Em. $5.00 gets you $1,000 in chips Re-Buy: none; Add-On - One - $5.00 for $1,000 in chips (anytime before end of Third Level or first hour; Rounds: 20 minutes; Prize Payout: One place paid per number of tables (4 tables-4 places paid); Poker Room will add $300 to prize pool.
Additional poker tournaments (with different rules) are held Monday through Friday mornings at 11:00 a.m. and Wednesday nights at 7:00 p.m.
But perhaps the bigger news for this tribal casino is that the New Mexico Lottery and Santa Ana Star Casino have entered into the first joint lottery/tribal casino game in the state and possibly the U.S. The two have launched LottoSino?, an instant (Scratcher) game with two distinct playing fields: one for the lottery and the other for the casino.
The traditional New Mexico Lottery portion features 11 ways to win with top cash prizes of $30,000. Santa Ana Star’s portion includes a scratch-off playing field revealing various casino prizes ranging from logo-styled merchandise and free bowling to $5,000 top cash prizes.
“Four different groups will reap LottoSino’s rewards,” said Lottery CEO Tom Shaheen. “First, New Mexico Lottery players will enjoy a new and different game. Second, casino players who normally don’t buy lottery tickets may find a new product they enjoy. Third, the game will help raise more money for the Lottery Success Scholarship. And fourth, the Pueblo of Santa Ana will be able to generate needed funds to support its community programs.”
Proposed to the Lottery by Vegas Games Inc. (VGI), the LottoSino concept was presented to several New Mexico tribal casinos. Santa Ana Star on the Santa Ana Pueblo not only opted to participate with the Lottery, but also applied to be a New Mexico Lottery retailer.
Quick Bites from Las Vegas:
Watch for Daily Poker Tournaments coming soon to the Fiesta Rancho.
The Stardust has added No-Limit Poker Tournaments every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Drawings for poker players are still held on Sundays at 2:00 p.m. for $200 cash (winner has 5 minutes to collect, or prize is applied to next Sunday’s drawing) and 2 Stardust jackets (winner need not be present). Players receive 1 free entry daily; additional entries awarded based on play and for designated hands (aces full or better). Poker Room is smoke free.
Speedway Casino in North Las Vegas offers low limit poker games and will give you a free t-shirt when you sign-up for the Pit Pass slot club (free to join.)
Play poker and stay cheap on the Strip in the heart of Las Vegas at Bally’s. Buy the slot tournament package for $99 and stay for two nights and that includes a shot at the $10,000 Hot Slot Classics Tournaments. Next available tournament dates are: August 10-11, and August 31-September 1. Move up to Paris for $149 but you’ll have to do your poker playing at Bally’s (an easy connected walk). Paris currently does not offer live poker. Call 1-888- 784-7946 for details.
That’s it for this week!
H. Scot Krause is a freelance writer, gaming industry analyst and researcher, originally from Cleveland, Ohio. While raising his two year-old son, Zachary, Scot reports, researches, and writes about casino games, events, attractions and promotions. He is an eight-year resident of Las Vegas. Questions or comments are welcomed. Card room managers are also invited to send your specials and promotions.
Filed under: Poker News
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