Blackjack at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore isn't the same "deal" as in the US

I'm in Singapore and the lockouts are still ON...  Just like last year, it's tough to keep a blog about sports going during the summer (i.e. especially since I can't follow baseball as closely here).  However, with the Marina Bay Sands (i.e. think Venetian and Palazzo) close by, I can definitely talk to you about gambling.

There are no places to play craps in Singapore.  If you know of a spot, please pass the information on.  Since I don't know and don't want to learn how to play Sic bo, I've primarily focused on playing blackjack.

The minimum table bet is $25 for blackjack.  In addition the Marina Bay Sands offers $50 and $100 tables, in addition to other higher limit areas.  There are some differences here as to how the game of blackjack is played, compared to the US. 

The dealers deal the cards differently here.  You know how in the US (e.g. Las Vegas, Atlantic City) the dealers go around the table twice and deal two cards to the players and himself/herself?  Next, the dealer looks at the card under the face up top card to see if he/she has blackjack.  Well, the dealers here in Singapore don't do that.

In Singapore, the dealer gets one card and everyone can take action if they wish.  Only after the players have stayed/busted, does the dealer take his/her second card.   For people like me who believe in luck and try to predict when a "ten" is coming, I think it's better here, because you can rely on your intuition to determine whether a 10 is likely to be pulled from the show.  ****  Of course there is not an exact science to this, but then again most gamblers believe in streaks and aren't rational when it comes to cards having a degree of randomness.

As of the two visits I've made to the casino, I've been successful.  Personally, I prefer to play at the lowest minimum table and raise my bet at my own discretion.  I've been playing with various wagering strategies and have been doing well. 

Just as in any casino, you have to be careful about who you play with.  The last visit I made to the Marina Bay Sands casino had me watching a woman who made some really strange plays.  Some times she would hit/stand on 15 or 16 (i.e. regardless if it was hard/soft) and if the dealers was showing a 5 or 6.  One other crazy play she made occurred when she split 10s, and the dealer was showing a "King".  After the split, she ended up hitting on a hand of 13 and of 14.  Karma got her and she busted on both hands...


Needless to say, she wasn't making any friends at the table.  She was killing everyone.  Just terrible...

Don't be that girl.  Good luck!


THE WIRK.

Don't miss Janet Jackson's #1s Up Close and Personal Tour ~ DC review

Monday night I was asked if I wanted to see Janet Jackson at Radio City Music Hall.  I was asked around 6PM and I presume her show was at 8.  I would've gone, had I been in New York ~ but I wasn't. 

Actually, earlier that day I was looking at Ticketmaster and Stubhub trying to find a GOOD ticket to see Janet Jackson on Tuesday night at DAR Constitution Hall.  Janet had 2 shows scheduled in Washington DC.  One was Tuesday night and the other is Thursday night.

Seeing as though, I'm a huge sports fan, Thursday's concert date isn't going to work (i.e. since the 2011 NCAA Tournament resumes).  As a result, I had to get my game plan together for last night's show.  Since Ticketmaster told me that her Tuesday night show was sold out, and I didn't want to pay any mark-up fees from a ticket re-seller, I thought I'd have to take my chances with a scalper. 

Regardless, I wasn't going to miss Janet's #1s Up Close and Personal Tour. I arrived at Constitution Hall around 9:15PM and after running by the scalpers and asking them about their inventory, I walked towards the box office.  "It's sold out," was what the guys kept saying as they tried to sell me their upper level tickets or tickets towards the back on the floor (i.e. for face value).  Suuuuuuuuure.  Sold out.  Little did these guys know, that I knew better.

As I talked to the guy at the box office and asked for a ticket, he told me he only had 2 left.  Row AA on the floor (i.e. the first floor in the 2nd group of seats on the floor ~ which translates to the 14th row).  He then also said that he wasn't allowed to split the pair.  That's when the negotiation took place.  I asked him to ask his manager to split the pair.  It was close to 9:30 and Janet was going to come out soon.  We all knew that.  Sure enough, permission was granted and I hustled to my seat!  With an extra seat next to me I was able to spread out and I had plenty of dancing room.  ****  I bought the 2nd to last ticket to the show and I had one of the best seats.  The last ticket was left unsold.  That's how I roll...

Janet looks so much like Michael here

I'm Janet's #1 fan and I'm probably one of her largest critics.  I expect to be "wow'd" when she perform and with her latest tour's title, my expectations might have been even higher.

Janet...  Janet...  Janet...  She killed it last night!  I danced and sang my heart out for the 2.25 hours you were on stage.  I enjoyed watching the clips from Good Times, Diff'rent Strokes, Poetic Justice, etc. and seeing the photo montages from her extensive career.  ****  Janet even put on the screen a picture of Michael and her when they were kids, and the crowd went wild. 

Throughout the show, I scanned the crowd and was thrilled to see that people in the crowd still knew how to do the Rhythm Nation dance and some of Janet's other signature moves.  I thoroughly enjoyed the show and strolled down memory lane as she performed her older hits (i.e. Miss you Much and Alright).  Alright is still one of my all-time favorites and she performed the entire song!  ****  She did not perform Black Cat.  That omission made me happy, since I'm not a fan of that track.

I'm used to Janet performing at larger arenas (e.g. Verizon Center, Izod Center), but I like the feel of the smaller venue.  If Janet was standing, the crowd was standing.  The crowd only sat when she sat and sang her ballads.  Gone was the huge set and stage backgrounds.  Instead, the crowd had a more "Up Close and Personal" experience complete with her signature choreography.  ****  I didn't count, but I think she had about 6 back up dancers.

Janet exiting the stage.  Show's over.

As someone who's seen Janet in concert at least 5 other times and wasn't overly impressed with her last tour, I have to say that last night was an excellent show.  The concert was definitely worth the price of admission.  Actually, I'm thinking about going on Thursday or Saturday in Atlantic City at the Borgata (i.e. in between the 2011 NCAA Tournament sessions).  I told you I was a fan!!!  If you want to get your ticket(s) to see Janet, here's the link:  http://www.ticketmaster.com/search?tm_link=tm_homeA_header_search&q=janet+jackson

For a taste of what you'll see at the show, here's some video I shot... 

THE WIRK

Sergio Martinez knocks out Paul Williams ~ Pictures and video of rematch

Yesterday I went to Atlantic City for the day.  I went up to make some money on the craps table and possibly go and see the fight between Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall.  I wanted to go since it was "close to home" and it was a rematch.  Williams won the first fight, in what has been described as a "controversial decision".

I have never watched the first fight.  I was only concerned with the 2nd one.

I was just in Dallas for the Margarito v Pacquiao fight, so I figured I might as well watch the middleweight championship rematch.  It didn't hurt that in less than 2hours I was already up $500, so why not throw some money at a fight ticket?!?!

It might have taken longer to pick my seat then actually watch the fight.  If not, the pre-fight "hoorah" might have taken longer than the actual fight.  After taking and sorting through so many boxing pictures last week, I decided to put the camera down after the 1st round.  HUGE MISTAKE.  Sergio Martinez and Paul Williams was interesting in the 1st round with both fighters landing punches.  They were holding onto each other though, and I thought that was a little lame.

In the 2nd round, Martinez landed his left and KNOCKED OUT Williams.  Williams landed on the mat face first and I immediately grabbed my camera and started shooting.  Ask me how annoyed I am, that I don't have shots of Williams falling to the mat!?!?!  Ugh.  Mental note. NEVER put my camera down.

Here are my shots from the fight and a video of the activity in the ring after Williams hit the mat.

Maybe some foreshadowing ~

"Good luck Paul Wiliams" sign in the background

The Argentinian, Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez

Before the fight

Ready to rumble

Williams fighting strong

Tangled up and on the ropes

Martinez running around the ring after landing his knock out left,

Williams, who fell face first, is on the mat

Sergio Martinez, wearing a crown, is lifted up

After the fight, it took a few minutes, but Williams was able to get up and do his post-fight interview.  When asked if he remembered what happened, he made some comment about not being able to remember.  Next thing you know the announcer showed him a "replay of what happened".  WOW.  Haha.  Talk about "too soon".  The man just picked himself up off of the mat, and he gets shown his knockout punch.  Funny. 

People are saying that Martinez's left to Williams in the 2nd round, might be the knockout of the year. I hope it was, so I can say, "Yes, I was there."

Before I left Atlantic City, I heard a bunch of cheers.  Martinez was walking through the casino with his people and everyone was cheering.  It was definitely going to be a party for him and his people.  About 10 minutes later, as I was walking out, I ran into them again and as he walked by I congratulated him on his knockout.  I received, a "Thank you," and a big "knockout" smile in return.  If he was a little bit taller, I might have hit the mat also...  He's a good looking man...

Hmmm, that reminds me of Pat Benatar's song, "Hit me with your best shot."  Here you go!

THE WIRK

Atlantic City, October 1 ~ Just Got Paid, It's Friday Night...

I went to Atlantic City for a night to help my friend celebrate his brother's 30th birthday and to make some money to help fund my postseason baseball, football, and travel adventures.  Let's see...  I've done a few posts on AC before so let's hit the highlights.  It was October 1st.  It was the first of the month, a Friday, and a pay day.  The casino had a good, lively crowd.  Wait...  That reminds me.  Here's Johnny Kemp's, "Just Got Paid," video.  You're welcome!



Ok...  Here are the highlights:

• Noodle bar at Caesars still rocks.  I recommend the lobster fried rice and chicken lettuce wraps.  Dinner was free thanks to the reward credits we had.  Woohoo!  What's better than a good, free dinner?!? Haha.
• Pat won $1,000 on video poker when he landed a royal flush that payed 4000X1.  When he hit it, he hit me in the arm to show me his screen.  I couldn't believe it.  He had to print and show me the ticket before I believed him.
• As we were playing and earning tier credits, I'd ask him questions about which cards he usually saves.  He made the comment that he always tries for the highest pay out, which makes sense.  How can you expect to land a royal flush if you don't hold the cards you need for the hand?
• I'd like to think I helped him pick the machine since I chose the one on the end towards the right and he took the one to my left.  He didn't even play with his own money, since he was using the slot dollars Caesars gave him.  Talk about lucky!!!

Pat won!

• 
  
  I have been thinking about "dealer signature" lately when it comes to roulette.  I made about $400 on the roulette table when 13 and 28 hit at least a couple of times each. 
• 
  
  The jury is still out, as to whether I believe or not.  However, I must say that I do think there's something to be said for whether people are lucky or not...  Further, I do believe that at some point the dealers must do something to keep themselves entertained and might try to spin for a particular number ~ and like I said, maybe the dealer is lucky...
• 
  
  I do think though that if put to the "test" and asked to spin for a particular number that almost all dealers would fail this "conscious" challenge.  Regardless, if you're curious you should "Google" the topic and investigate it further.
• 
  
  I learned how to play "don't pass" in craps since the tables were so cold at the Tropicana.  The dealer was helpful and I was able to capitalize on the terrible luck of the brave souls who decided to throw their money away.  I never liked "don't pass" players until I became one.  I still don't really enjoy the "don't", but at least I'm more educated about it now.
• 
  
  I left the casino a winner.  On my last stand at the craps table, I was up $500.  I buy-in with $200 and I had more than $700 in my rack.  I gave most of that stand back, but still had a lot of profit from the night before so I was still good.  Although I left AC with $500 in profit from the whole trip, I'm still kicking myself for not leaving with $1,000!!! 
• When I was at the table, a Delonte West looking guy came over and started rolling the dice. I have no idea how he did it, but he was a very good shooter.  I took one look at his girlfriend and thought to myself, I need to get a man like that." OK... I might have a problem now. LOL.
• 
  
  There is a 7-foot metal giraffe sculpture that sells for $500.  I saw it in a store at The Quarter in the Tropicana.  The next time I clear $1,000 I'm buying it.  Forget a Christmas tree...  I'm going to have a Christmas giraffe!!!!

THE WIRK (aka Pamphlet)

Happy Birthday to Me ~ AC with my gambling buddies

I'm lucky to have a good group of guy friends who like to gamble (i.e. Kevin, Carlos, Mario, and Pat) and who wanted to take me to AC for my birthday.  I really don't know if they actually thought of it as my birthday present, but as far as I'm concerned it was my birthday trip.

We got a late start on the drive up, but all had  arrived at Caesars close to 9.  They treated me to dinner at the Noodle Bar and then it was time to win!

Incidentally, it was also the week of the premiere for Boardwalk Empire and a few of the cast members were playing craps.  Almost everyone and their mother had lanyards for the screening.  Random.  However, Caesars was definitely home base for that crew.

The craps tables weren't as hot as they normally are, but I still managed to do pretty well.  Posing pics of my chips is getting old, but here's the ticket I won, when I hit a flush (i.e. not sure if it was straight or not) when playing video poker.  For that win, I'd like to credit my friend, Pat, since he had slot credits to burn.  I was just killing time and WON.

The guys like to call me "Pamphlet".  As in, get some help, know when to quit, blah blah blah.  If anything I win more than they do...  Just saying :-P

At the end of my trip my friend, Mario, presented me my birthday pamphlet (i.e. not a birthday card).  The guys signed my pamphlet like they'd sign a birthday card!  HAHA.  I love it!!!!!

Thanks, guys!  You all rock!  Back to Atlantic City in a few days...

THE WIRK



Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, WV ~ My review

Table games are still a novelty for the people in the DC/VA/MD area and being that I like to play craps I was curious to see what Charles Town, WV had to offer.  There's a Hollywood Casino in Charles Town.  I'm actually familiar with Hollywood Casino since there's one in Indiana that I've visited previously.  Picture a Regal Cinemas or movie multiplex sans movies theater but add in the lights and sounds of slots machines and now table games.

I'd recently visited a casino in Harrington, DE.   Here is the URL: http://www.harringtonraceway.com/ for Harrington Raceway & Casino.   This particular casino only had 1 craps table and if I remember correctly, the table minimum was $15.  That casino offered 3X, 4X, and 5X odds.  I wasn't particularly fond of my experience, but at least I left even.  With only one craps table it's either hot or not and there are no other tables to jump to when the dice are ice cold.  I'm not exactly the most mobile person, but I do like having options.

Hollywood Casino is probably the shortest drive away and I was able to convince my friend, Pun, to go with me for a quick Saturday, day trip to check it out.  Here is the URL:  http://www.hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com/.  Pun likes to play craps also so it was a perfect match.  It took about 90 minutes to get to Charles Town, WV.  He drove and I just checked out the scenery.  ****  FYI - There's not much to see...

Upon arrival to Hollywood Casino Pun and I bee-lined for the table games.  After hearing horror stories about the high table minimums, we were pleased to see that the casino offered 4 craps tables and two each with minimums of $25 and $10.  Three of the 4 tables were crowded and the $10 table I wanted to play appeared to be at capacity. 

When I approached the table to further investigate who had chips in their rack and who was there just wasting space, I noticed a guy about my age and height just standing there.  He was leaning against the table and following the action, but wasn't betting.  I made eye contact with the dealer and asked if the space was open and he nodded.  Then I tapped the guy who had no chips in his rack and asked if he was playing.  "I'm learning," was his reply.  I told him I wanted to play and asked him to move back.  He replied by pointing to another table (i.e. a half empty $25 table) and telling me that I could go play over there.  I informed him that I didn't want to play the $25 table, and that I wanted to play where he was standing.  The man to his right could see that the guy wasn't moving and politely moved over so I could get in.  Within 5 rolls of the dice, I'd boxed the kid out, and he was standing behind me. 

****  Here's your first lesson: If you're not playing, you need to move so someone else can gamble.  This rule is for slots and all table games.  You can learn online, by reading a book, or standing behind someone.

****  Here's your second lesson:  I'll approach you politely and tell you what I want, but if you don't listen, I'm not afraid to tell you how it is.  Very little scares me, when I know I'm in the "right".

When I got to the table it was about 1PM.  I went ahead and cashed in my $20s.  I don't like $20s.  I prefer $100s.  With $180 in my rack, I was in the game at the $10 table.  The first thing I noticed when I got to the table was that the odds offered were only 2X.  I've played many casinos and I've actually never seen 2X odds offered.  I'm used to 3X, 4X, and 5X odds.  I've seen 10X odds and higher - but let's face it, I get cheap with my cash and I will never put 10X odds behind my pass line bet.  I don't care how hot the shooter is ~ 10X odds is a mental hurdle I don't want to jump.  I was chatting this over with my dad earlier today and he thought that was funny when I mentioned it.  Whatever.  I just can't do it.

At the craps table I noticed that no one could make their points.  Awesome.  I'm not a "don't pass" person, so I just picked up and left.  I headed over to the roulette table, and Pun hit the slots.  Roulette.  Simple game, right?  Well I guess to some, not really.  There was a young couple sitting at the $15 min table.  Here are two examples of the conversations that I overheard.

Girl:  Are there more even numbers than odd numbers?
****  I learned today from my friend Sherry that 0 is actually an even number.  Regardless, if you bet "even", you're still not going to get paid if 0 hits.

Girl: If I bet this 1/3 group of numbers what do I get?
Boy: You get any of those 21 numbers...
****  Seriously?!?!  There are only 36 numbers covered by 1/3s...  1/3 of 36 = 12.  The question was raised and I literally counted the numbers in the 3rd in my head, because I couldn't believe that such a basic question was being asked.

After getting bored with roulette and Pun wanted a break from slots we hit the buffet.  I like buffets.  I'm not ashamed to admit it.  2 buffets cost about $40.  There's nothing special on the buffet, but my expectations were reasonable.  I wasn't expecting the spread at the Bellagio.  There were no crab legs and no cocktail shrimp, but there was fried shrimp and a variety of other choices.

After eating Pun ran into some guys he knew and I went back to the craps table.  I made $100.  It doesn't sound like much, but you try making any real money with such low odds offered.  One thing I don't enjoy about being one of the only (i.e if not the only) girl at the craps table is that there's always a guy who thinks he knows how to play better than me.  "Better" is a subjective term.  Just because I don't spread my bets and place numbers doesn't mean I don't know how to.  In fact, I usually don't because I've been standing at the table and I know that it's cold so I don't feel like chasing my money and throwing it out there. 

Sure enough, I was there and a man rolled up next to me with $75 in $20s, $5s, and $1s.  Seriously?!?!  Anyway, the man got his change and then proceeded to tell me that I could make more money by making place bets.  I simply said, "The point hasn't even been set, so what numbers are you even going to place?"  He looked confused.  "You play your chips, and I'll play mine." was what I followed up with.  Sure enough 2 rolls after the point was set the shooter crapped out.  On the outside I was smiling.  Inside I was laughing...

At about 6PM, Pun and I decided it was over.  There really was nothing else I wanted to see.

Moral of the story:  Just drive to Atlantic City or fly to Las Vegas.

Interesting unrelated trivia: My purple Lakers T-shirt attracts men, but not money...


THE WIRK

I play craps to win ~ I love dice...

I spent the past several days in casinos...  I win. 

I play craps...  I win.

I've been to Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and St. Louis...  I win.

I'm a winner.

If you can't win with $200 you can't win at all and you need to walk away.  Figure out who your cooler friends are and never gamble with them.  Figure out who your lucky friends are and don't leave home without them.  Look for a heavy table (i.e. with a lot of chips on it).  Figure out who knows how to shoot dice and don't feel bad about skipping shooters who can't shoot.

By all means, if you can't make a point or like to roll 7s ~ pass the dice.

FYI - I played my first crapless craps tables in St. Louis, and I loved it.

AC

It's all about the Benjamins

The lone girl in AC, while the guys leave the beach during guys' week...

The beach in AC.  I assure I'm not huge.  The dress is flowy.

The post-it note on the mirror in the suite

THE WIRK = WINNER

Could sports betting be coming to Atlantic City?

****So this morning I decided that I'm not going to travel to Indianapolis for the Final Four.  I'm not that excited about the games, and I've already been to Indianapolis and Lucas Oil Stadium during the NFL Playoffs.

Later this morning, I received the following link from a friend about a hearing on sportsbetting in Atlantic City, New Jesey for a constitutional amendment to legalize sportsbetting in NJ.  Similar to Vegas, back when you couldn't wager on UNLV etc., it appears there'd be restrictions against wagers being placed on college games that take place in New Jersey or on any game in which a New Jersey college team participates.

Obviously, and according to the article, the amendment would be "...predicated on constitutional amendment would be predicated on the reversal of the Federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, a law which prohibits sports wagering in all but four states throughout the nation."

I'm all for adding sports betting to the Atlantic City casinos.  Sports betting is the only major gaming component that's missing from a Vegas adventure.  Further, I've always felt that AC casinos are priced incorrectly.  For the amount of money that it takes to stay at the Borgata or one of the other better casinos, I'd rather take that money and use it towards a flight to Vegas, where I can stay at a beautiful casino and get comped.  AC is the option I choose when I'm going with people who can't/don't want to fly.

Incidentally, if anyone has any real insight into the comps structure/point equations, please fill me in.  I've always been curious as to the specific details.

For more the full text in the article, I've included the link for your convenience.

Public Hearing on New Jersey Sports Betting Set for Atlantic City



Oh, and speaking of New Jersey. Here you go.



THE WIRK