Guide to Gambling Getaways:

WHERE TO GO:   The granddaddy of east coast gambling is, of course, Atlantic City in New Jersey.  On May 26, 1978, Resorts Atlantic City opened its doors, to be joined by seven other casinos along the boardwalk: Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort, Bally’s Atlantic City, Caesars Atlantic City, Showboat – The Mardi Gras Casino, Tropicana Casino and Resort, Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino, and the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort. Three more sit on the marina across town: Trump Marina, Harrah's Marina and The Borgata. 

Connecticut may be a small state, but it’s home to the largest casino in the world, Foxwoods Resort in Ledyard, with 340,000 square feet of gaming space in a complex covering 4.7 million square feet.  Not far is Mohegan Sun in Uncasville.  Both offer the experience of a full-service casino resort property, where the emphasis is not only on state-of-the-art games, but also upscale accommodations and world-class entertainment.

In fact, casino resorts are springing up all over the Northeast to lure gaming fans with additional experiences, such as upscale shopping, spa treatments, gourmet restaurants, live concerts, golf, and more.  New York has the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, and the Seneca Niagara Casino Hotel in Niagara Falls, while Delaware has the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino.

A popular gaming hybrid, “racinos” combine horse race tracks with casinos, which are typically added to supplement seasonal or weekend-only harness and thoroughbred racing. They may not offer table games, as is the case at Empire City in Yonkers, NY, but they often have thousands of slot machine and video games.  Three racinos in Pennsylvania have been revitalized in this way, with new owners: Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack in Chester; Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre; and the Philadelphia Park Casino in Bensalem.

For horse racing purists, there are several notable tracks where the best horses on the circuit can be seen in live action. The Belmont Stakes, the longest of the Triple Crown races, is run at Belmont Park Race Track in Elmont, NY.  Rockingham Park in Salem, NH, opened in 1906 and holds the distinction of being New England’s first track.  Colonial Downs is Virginia’s only pari-mutuel horse racetrack.  Its Secretariat Turf Course is the country’s second largest, with the only track configured so harness horses can pace or trot a one-mile distance while encountering just one turn.

WHERE TO STAY: If you want to round out your weekend away with activities other than gambling, consider a casino near a larger tourist destination.  The Seneca Niagara Casino Hotel is less than ten minutes away from Niagara Falls. The Connecticut casinos are within 20 minutes of the historic and charming waterside village of Mystic.  Summer hotel packages are offered by the Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf to coincide with the Massachusetts Handicap (“MassCap”), the signature race at Suffolk Downs. Similarly, the Providence Marriott Downtown offers Stay & Play packages which include activities at nearby Twin River, a casino with a video slot parlor and a greyhound dog track.

WHAT TO DO: If you play your cards right (pun intended), you can catch a national poker tournament while you’re away.  The World Series of Poker circuit comes to Atlantic City every year, and several World Poker Tour events make their way to Foxwoods.  If it’s a “sit and go” tournament sponsored by the casino, such as the Borgata Winter Open, the buy-in will be relatively low, so you may be able to join in the action. 

Check ahead on the casino’s web site for a calendar of events.  There may be a special event scheduled during your visit, such as a concert headlined by your favorite performer, a sporting event, or even a food and wine festival.

DID YOU KNOW?   There are only five states in the U.S. which have no gaming opportunities whatsoever: Hawaii, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah and Vermont.  As for the other 45, some states may only allow bingo, lotto or pari-mutuel activities such as horse races and OTB, greyhound races and jai alai.  Several other states allow casinos only on land owned by Native Americans, and a few have legalized gambling statewide.  www.worldcasinodirectory.com provides a state-by-state guide.

Additional Resources:

National Casino Directory: www.nationalcasinodirectory.com
Gamblers Anonymous: www.gamblersanonymous.org


Tips and Techniques for Poker Bluffs

Bluffing is a powerful tool, if you know when to use it. Don’t count on it too frequently.  Use it only when you’re holding worthless “rags.”

Play as if you have a strong hand; your mannerisms will follow suit, and the other players will pick up on it. 

Bluffing is easier when you’re only playing one or two others.  It’s more difficult to get a table full of people to fold.

Know who to bluff.  Choose the players who are paying attention to their opponents, and not just blindly playing their cards.

A prime opportunity to bluff is when there are aces and flushes on the board, because your opponents will think you hold the best cards to complement them.