Archive for March, 2007
« Previous EntriesThe Bear Growls: Fox guarding henhouse — casino attorney to head committee on how to “improve” Nevada’s judicial system
Thursday, March 29th, 2007News article MGM Mirage Senior Vice President Paula Gentile will lead the 33-member commission that is charged with improving Nevada’s judicial system. I don’t know Ms. Gentile and have no reason to believe she is anything but ethical, honorable, and an outstanding citizen. But the idea of having this committee chaired by counsel for one [...]
The Bear Growls: Did the U.S. government bully Neteller out of Canada?
Tuesday, March 27th, 2007Neteller’s announcement that it will cease doing business with Canadians makes no sense from a business perspective. The only plausible explanation that comes to mind is that the U.S. Department of Justice, as part of its taxpayer money-wasting witch hunt against online sportsbook and casino operators, pressured Neteller into making this decision. The gall of [...]
The Bear Growls: Ridiculous ripoff of suckers by Hollywood Casino in Aurora, Illinois, apparently targeting sick, addicted gamblers
Tuesday, March 27th, 2007Link to information Hollywood Casino Aurora … Last week, the property began offering a service called Reservation Blackjack. It allows gamblers to phone ahead to reserve a seat at a $5 minimum table.There’s a price to pay: $20 per person for each hour of play. This fact complicates the economic dynamics of the game for [...]
The Bear Growls: Former Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn attempting to join MGM Grand board of directors
Tuesday, March 27th, 2007Link to news article If anyone somehow still had any doubt that casinos are the de facto government of Nevada, that doubt can now be put to rest. The former governor, out of office because of term limits, is now sleeping with dogs. Unethical dogs at that. I hope he gets fleas. Another embarrassment for [...]
The Bear Growls: Louisiana government corruption rivals Las Vegas government corruption
Thursday, March 22nd, 2007According to this news article, Internet gambling charges against an executive with a British company were dismissed Tuesday in exchange for $400,000 after extradition issues left the case nearly impossible to prosecute, St. Landry Parish District Attorney’s Office announced. If this case was nearly impossible to prosecute, why didn’t the prosecutor dismiss it? The demand [...]
The Bear Growls: As I predicted six months ago, “retired” Sheriff goes to work for a casino
Wednesday, March 14th, 2007Station principals Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank J. Fertitta III, as well as their relatives, supported Young during his tenure as sheriff. In 2002, the company and its owners donated $50,000 to Young’s campaign. In 2006, they donated $60,000, according to Clark County election records. Link to news article. This is sickening. It happens over and [...]
The Bear Growls: MGM Grand and Gaming Control Board conspire to harass patron trying to cashing chips
Friday, March 9th, 2007The news article Chips no longer good as cash details the policy of MGM Grand of hassling patrons who are cashing $5000 chips. Based on published reports, MGM Grand has refused to cash chips for winning patrons more times than any other casino. If Nevada had a legitimate Gaming Control Board, this despicable practice would [...]
Why I started this blog
Wednesday, March 7th, 2007I have been writing “growls” for the free weekly newsletter published by BJ21.com for a few years. I growl whenever something annoys me enough to comment about it. There is no schedule or timeline as to when I choose to growl. A friend asked how he can quickly access all past growls, and told [...]
Welcome to The Bear Growls
Tuesday, March 6th, 2007When LV Bear growls, he shines a bright light onto the gaming industry. In particular, he will call attention to bad behavior by casinos, casino executives, gaming control boards, politicians and whoever else tries to abuse, mistreat, or take unreasonable advantage of casino patrons. Previous LV Bear posts were in newsletter form but the Bear [...]
Originally Posted 2/8/07 – Boyd Gaming expands garbage “blackjack” in Las Vegas
Tuesday, March 6th, 2007The Bear Growls: Boyd Gaming expands garbage “blackjack” in Las Vegas February 8, 2007 Michael Gaughan, the former operator of Coast Casinos, is well known for having paranoid casino managers and absolute intolerance of players with any skill whatsoever. But to his credit, he did not rip off the gullible public with garbage variations [...]
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