Ok, I can admit it.  I may be a bit of a television snob.  Reality TV is not really my cup of tea, but it is a viable and profitable source of entertainment.  Reality television shows have given average people (who are anything but average) their fifteen minutes of fame.  Some of them have gone on to become major stars.  One of the most talked about reality television shows of 2009 was Jersey Shore.  The TV show which airs on Mtv follows the format that has made Mtv reality shows a hit since they first introduced The Real World.  a bunch of people are put together, this time the unfortunate stereotype of Italian Americans, and the drama unfolds.  Some may find it is a negative portrait of young adult Italian Americans, but most will admit to watching the show at least once.  Now one of the casino resorts in Las Vegas is taking advantage of their appearance on the Jersey Shore.

If one has ever visited a Las Vegas casino or casino resort one knows it is not hard to find a place to gamble.  The casinos are the major attraction, are easy to find, have all kinds of sights and sounds, and no clocks.  It’s not hard to gamble, and casino designers make it as easy as possible.  However, in the age of the super casino resorts, the casino isn’t the only attraction.  There are theaters, bars, celebrity chef and high class restaurants, spas, and exquisite pool areas.   These “fringe” amenities are becoming just as popular with tourists and just as important with casino resort planners.  At one time these non-casino attractions would have taken the Las Vegas visitor away from the casino, but steps are being taken by casino software providers to take the gaming outside the casino.

Cantor Gaming, one of the casino industry’s leading software developers, has launched some of their new mobile gambling devices.  They have found, marketed, and sold devices to the casino resorts that allows the guest to enjoy casino action while enjoying resort attractions that are away from the casino itself.  The latest Las Vegas casino resort to acquire the mobile gaming platform is the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, just off the famed Las Vegas Strip.

The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino has become a Las Vegas Strip landmark. It is the northern most of the Las Vegas Boulevard or Strip, casino hotels, and is easily viewable from almost anywhere along the strip. Its high diamond shape tower offers thrill rides and a fine dining restaurant with a panoramic view of Las Vegas and the Nevadan desert. Of course, the property also offers nice hotel rooms and suites, meeting space, and a casino.

This spring the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino is offering a chance for basketball and gambling enthusiasts a super party. For college basketball fans the most exciting time of the year is known as March Madness. This is when the NCAA holds their year ending tournament where the 65 team field will be narrowed down to the prestigious Final Four and finally a national champion. Some consider it the most exciting time of the year as there is almost nonstop basketball. Some consider it the only time of the year they watch college basketball.

Like most sporting events gambling heightens the viewing fun for the spectator. Offices groups and packs of friends put together their pools where minimum amounts are wagered and bragging rights are won. However, there is a contingent of serious gamblers that take March Madness to heart. The Stratosphere is taking them, and the casual sports gamblers. They are setting up there March BBall Playoff HQ from March 18 to March 21. The HQ will offer four days of constant college basketball action, in the Stratosphere’s Theater of the Stars Showroom.

The Stratosphere Hotel and Casinos March Madness action will include nine 8 foot by 12 foot big screen televisions showing basketball games as they happen. There will also be food, Budweiser specials, blackjack tables featuring the famous Double Down Girls as dealers, and of course betting stations so patrons can gamble on the games. The Stratosphere is already known for being a economical Las Vegas Strip hotel and casino, and they are keeping with this image. The best part of their March BBall Playoff HQ is admission is free.

Las Vegas is a big time destination town. The little town in the desert was once considered to be an adult playground, and was affectionately nicknamed Sin City. It became famous for its big hotels, headliner entertainment, topless revue shows, and, of course, gambling, gambling, gambling. In the past twenty years Las Vegas has changed its image a little. It still has all the fun of the good old days, but Las Vegas has remodeled itself to include more vacation, and family activities. Sure the casino resorts have gotten bigger and glitzier, but attractions such as golf, amusement rides, high flying acrobatic shows, and celebrity chef restaurants have made Sin City a world class vacation destination.

Las Vegas is also becoming known as a convention town. Over the past couple of decades the big casino resorts have added convention space to their properties. There have also been full out convention centers built, near the famous landmarks of the Strip. Some of them even sport the classic names like Sands. Las Vegas is now not only a casino epicenter but a convention capitol.

However, there are two specific conventions that won’t be held in Las Vegas, the Republican and/or the Democratic National Conventions which are held every four years. Both parties have contacted Las Vegas and asked for space. Both parties were given a no. It might seem that Las Vegas is trying to remain neutral in its appearances, or they might not want to deal with the security that accompanies the political scene. However, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, they are (thankfully) booked. The enormous conventions would generate much needed revenue for the casino resorts and restaurants in Las Vegas, but only during the time of the convention. There are many requirements that Las Vegas isn’t willing to comply to. Namely, both parties require the intended space be vacant for 90 days before the convention so they can upgrade and implement security. Las Vegas politely said, we’re not willing to give up that space and turn away booked clients.

Recently in Canada, developers have been trying to figure out what it is the brings the gambling player back to the slot machines time and time again. The addiction is undeniable, and signs of addiction are become taught to casino workers as they are very clear. Now people are trying to understand what exactly makes these people return to the casino to once again lose their money.

For many years casino have been putting money into the research of gambling addiction and many are required by law to institute some sort of agreement to assist gamblers with that type of addiction. In fact, some courts are even ruling on the side of the gambler in terms of addiction when they owe money to casinos. This type of addiction is now being compared to alcoholism and is being thought of in many courts as a similar situation.

The research that continues in Canada is to sit gambling players at special virtual slot machines to help better understand why they become addicted and also to see if there is a way to prevent them from being addicted to the gambling sport. This seems counterintuitive for the slot machine makers to invest in something that will make people gamble less and could in turn end up hurting the entire casino gambling industry.

There are many set standards about slot machines that are being governed throughout many countries. These things include randomization and certain other strategies that allow the companies to make money, but still provide payouts. This research now is intended to provide strategies that show why gambling can be addictive. According to Matthew Young from Carlton University, “Slot machines are the crack cocaine of gambling, they say.” He continues by sharing that the slot machines in casinos have the spinning wheels which in reality are just for show. The outcome is predetermined by the time that the player finishes pulling the lever. Melissa Stewart who is also working on the project stated, “The symbols on the reel are arranged such that near misses occur frequently.”

Many times people go away on vacation and decide to do a little gambling. That is what happened with Harry Kakavas, but apparently there was more to the story. The gambling player as it turns out is an addict and has dug himself into quite a hole through gambling and has now accumulated over one million dollars of debt to the casino.

Kavakas has pushed on the casino during his gambling stints and acquired the kind of treatment that high rollers get. He received these rewards but as it turns out, he did not have the cash to back up his high rolling ego. In an attempt to once again sweet talk his way out of the situation, he took the casino to court in hopes of not having to pay out the millions that he owed.

The courts on numerous occasions now have denied him and now he will be facing his gambling debt at nearly one million dollars. Many times gamblers try to talk their way out of their debts claiming external corruption that has led them to this point, however, casinos have been taken advantage of by these high roller imposters and now it is time for justice to be served.

Kavakas lost his civil case when he challenged the casino in Melborne Australia. Now he will be paying these debts back to the Atlantis Paradise Island Casion in the Bahamas.According to the gambling player, he tried to sue the casinos because he had self declared a ban on casino gambling due to his addiction when the casino approached him, with boxes of cash, private jets, and penthouse suites in order to come back and play. After losing $30 million he blames all of this irresponsibility on the casino and none on himself. Kavakas was trying to sue for $100 million and in turn ended up paying the piper.

A new casino is expected to open its door this month in Cambodia. Lying near the border of Vietnam, this casino will be launched with a $100 million invested in it. The goal of the casino is to help out the economy and bring up the entertainment sector of the revenue. With its close proximity to other countries, it is hoping to gab tourists in neighboring cities and start its own complex of gambling and casinos.

Just one week away from its February 26th grand opening, the casino spans nearly 2.5 hectares of land. This new casino project is widely accepted in the area as it will expand the job force by nearly 6000 people. In a time where the economy has found many people without jobs, this is an exciting event in many families futures. Under the name Titan King Casino, the new venue will be located in Bavet. The owner Kith Thieng stated, “We started to build our casino when the world economic crisis had not yet struck. Construction took three years to complete, but now it is complete, and the grand openingwill be on February 26.”

The casino will be a huge hit, but the hotel also has its glamor. The Hotel is listed as a four star eight story venue complete with restaurants, and entertainment. The plan for the new casino resort will be to draw in customers from outlying countries such as Chinese, Vietnamese, and Malaysian markets. Although the economy is down right now, Thieng doesn’t expect it to bounce back within the next two years. Since they have planned for that, they are most likely prepared to endure this difficult economic time.

One way to build the customer base through the casino will be to cooperate with other casinos in the area and work together to promote the gambling industry. This will prove to be a difficult task as two other casinos have closed down in the past year due to the economy.