The annual Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards for 2010 were announced last Thursday.

In the Category ‘Casino/specialty venue of the year’, we have the following:

• CAESARS WINDSOR, WINDSOR
  CASINO NOVA SCOTIA, NOVA SCOTIA
  CASINO RAMA, ORILLIA
  CASINO REGINA, REGINA
  CLUB REGENT CASINO, WINNIPEG
  DEERFOOT CASINO, CALGARY
  NIAGARA FALLSVIEW CASINO, NIAGARA FALLS
  RIVER CREE, EDMONTON
  RIVER ROCK CASINO, RICHMOND

Let’s talk a bit more about Casino Regina.

Casino Regina is located in Regina (Canada). It is part of the historic Union Train Station. This building is considered as a National Heritage Site. It has very nice architecture and décor.

The casino itself is considered as being Saskatchewan’s finest casino and entertainment center. It is the top tourism destination in the whole province with over 2 millions visitors each year.

Visitor at the casino will be able to choose between over 780 slot machines. In Saskatchewan, provincial regulations require that any slot machines pay out at least 85%.

All those slot machines housed at Casino Regina have an average payout of over 92%.

So at Casino Regina, you will be able to choose between specialty machines, video keno, poker and multi-line games. Credits start at 1 cents up to 2 canadian dollars. Some machines accept multi-denomination as well.

Last year (2009), Casino Regina has paid out over 61 millions in slot jackpots.

Besides the slot machines, you will have access to nearly 40 table games like: Roulette, Craps, Caribbean Stud Poker, Texas Hold’em Bonus, Red Dog, Baccarat, Blackjack and more.

The Poker Room has a weekly poker tournament as well.

Like in many casinos, player do have access to a Player’s Club Card. This is a free card that will give you access to rewards, perks and Player privileges. For each 1000 points you’re getting on your card, you’ll receive 5 canadian dollars back.

Besides, this card enables you to:

• Discounts and specials at the restaurants,
• Promotional offers (via mail),
• Invitations to: VIP parties, tournaments, performances, player’s events, and more

The Regina Casino has several dining options:

• The Last Spike Restaurant: known for its relaxed atmosphere
• CR Express: for those looking for a quick lunch,
• CPR Lounge: the place to have drinks, alone or with friends,
• Whistle Stop Café: just if you need a coffee break

The casino has a Show Lounge with performances 2 to 4 times a week.

The Regina Casino is open seven days a week from 9 am in the morning to 4 am. There are several bus tour companies doing Casino trips to the casino, some even outside the province.

For those looking for a stay: there are several hotels with discounts for Casino’s players, as well as special packaged being offered.

The Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards for 2010 will be presented on March 11 in Toronto.

Posted by George in Bonuses and Promotions, Casino News, Poker | No Comments » February 26th, 2010

This coming weekend, the Hillcrest Sports Center will host some of the top women’s curling teams in Saskatchewan for the Casino Moose Jaw Saskatchewan Women’s Curling Tour Cash Bonspiel.

Fourteen teams will play against each others for a total of CAD8,500$. The event will start Friday evening. The tournament will go on all the day on Saturday and the final will be at 3pm on Sunday.

The tournament favorite will be six-time former provincial champion Michell Englot of Regina besides Cindy Simmons. Former provincial senior champion and long time Moose Jaw curler Roberta Fonger will take to the ice with Regina’s Linda Kloschinsky.

The Casino Moose Jaw is located in the heart of Moose Jaw’s downtown, Saskatchewan. It has over 200 slot machines and many table games. All of them are surrounded by 20 very nice murals inspired by the art-deco look of the Roaring Twenties. Each mural is depicting a moment in Moose Jaw’s past.

The slot machines include traditional spinning reels, video keno and poker to sophisticated multi-line games. Players can choose to play from 1¢, 2¢, 5¢, 25¢ and $1 denominations as well as multi-denomination machines. In July 2008, Casino Moose Jaw paid out nearly $878,000 in slot jackpots.

Players will also find lots of game tables. Including blackjack, double zero roulette and three card poker.

The casino has for entertainment the The Mae Wilson Theater.

The upcoming promotion at the casino is starting November 30th. It is called Yuletide Treasures. Players have to swipe their Players Club Card every day at the Casino Guest Services Desk to be entered to win one of four amazing weekly gifts. It includes: an exotic cruise for two, an ultimate entertainment package, a home improvement package or even $10,000 cash.

Tourism packages for the casino are available and starts for as low as $99. It might include being able to relax at the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa (mineral thermal pools). Or visiting the Tunnels of Moose Jaw (historic live action tour). Or receiving a voucher for the casino.

Every bus tour going for the casino offers bus tours discounts, offers and mystery prizes, including:

* a “Pay and Play Double” coupon per day – purchase $15, $20 or $25 in slot or table play and receive an equal amount in free slot or table play;
* a $5 food and beverage coupon per day; and
* a buy one, get one free coupon for a Casino Moose Jaw-presented performance at the Mae Wilson Theater

There are bus operators leaving from all over Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. Cities like Saskatoon, Regina, Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Winnipeg, Portage La Prairie have all operators going for the casino.

The casino is open 7 days a week. Sunday to Thursday from 9 am to 2 am and Friday to Saturday from 9 am to 3 am.

Posted by George in Bonuses and Promotions, Casino News, Poker | No Comments » November 28th, 2009

Since BC Premier Campbell embarked on the biggest, most aggressive gambling expansion program ever seen in Canada with the changes made to gambling in British Columbia in 1997, gambling in the whole province have been stacked up.

First, the British Columbia Lottery Corporation is going more aggressive than ever. Starting this month, every adults in British Columbia can deposit into their personal E-gambling accounts, managed by the province, the sum of $9,999 every week. Visa and MasterCard accepted. Until this month, registered players were allowed weekly account transfers of only 120 Canadian dollars.

A gambler in British Columbia can now build up to $520,000 in his or her government-controlled account in one year and will soon be able to wager the entire sum on one virtual poker hand, one virtual spin of the wheel. No other jurisdiction in Canada or in the whole United States offers online casino-style games.

In Canada, only the Atlantic provinces offer online sports betting and lottery draws, along with British Columbia. Officially, no other provinces are contemplating the introduction of Internet gambling so far.

Besides offering internet betting, soon the BCLC (British Columbia Lottery Corporation) will offer  casino-style betting on games such as blackjack, roulette and poker, designed for computers and portable devices (Ipod, Iphone, cellphones, and more).

Last month, Mr. Graydon from BCLC noted in a newspaper opinion that “Gaming online is growing at a rate of 20% a year. Globally, the industry is worth a staggering $12-billion a year. Simply put, if British Columbians wish to gamble online, we’d like them to do it as customers of BCLC.”.

Seen as a good thing from gamblers, others noted that problems will but arise. In a study released earlier this year (Internet Gambling: Prevalence, Patterns, Problems, and Policy Options), one can find: “The prevalence of problem gambling is three to four times higher in Internet gamblers compared to non-Internet gamblers,” reads the report. “Having problems with gambling is one of the features that best predicts someone is an Internet gambler.”

The report also notes “a significant proportion of online gambling revenue comes from problem gamblers (41.3% in Canada, 27% internationally).” Canadian Internet gamblers have “relatively high, past month rates of substance abuse (23.3% for illicit drugs).” Use of illicit drugs “is statistically associated with Internet gambling,” the report notes.

Though the BCLS is doing reasonable steps to help problems gamblers. Should a gambler in British Columbia find himself losing control, betting beyond his means, having suicidal thoughts, counselling is available. The government provides this help through its gaming policy and enforcement branch.

The whole province is booming with gambling: 17 full services casinos and 10 196 slots machines.

The province is getting since 2001 a yearly increase in gambling revenue of 50 millions Canadian dollars (308 millions in 2001/2002 for 658 millions in 2008/2009). Internet revenue gambling were 0 dollars in 2001/2002 and are now up to 23.5 millions for 2008/2009. The province is expecting around 34 millions for the 2009/2010 fiscal year.

Posted by George in Casino News | No Comments » September 13th, 2009

Bodog is finally opening a Canadian website (www.bodog.ca) for their Canadian, and others, customers. The Bodog brand is one of the leading brands for US players and soon to be Canadians featuring an online casino, poker room, sportsbook and race book.

Founded in 1994, Bodog has its head office, and is licensed in, the Caribbean nation of Antigua.

For Canadians, they will need to go to Bodog Canada (visit Bodog.ca) to open an account. The Bodog.com main website will not accept Canadian-based players. The payment methods available for Bodog Canadian players will include credit cards and UsemyBank (www.usemybank.com). Both of which are extremely easy to use. The minimum deposit for Canadian Bodog players is set at $20 Canadian.

The Bodog Poker room uses proprietary software created exclusively for Bodog Poker and is known for their incredibly sick overlays while the casino is powered by Real Time Gaming and features 80 different slot machines along with side games.

One of the most recognized entertainment brands on Earth, a host of world-class entertainment services operate and have operated worldwide under the Bodog banner, including online gaming, which continues to grow at an impressive rate; an international record label; a publishing enterprise (with an online magazine, Bodog Nation, and blog, Bodog Beat); and an international television production company (Bodog TV), which has produced reality television series such as Bodog Fight and Calvin Ayre Wild Card Poker.

Bodog offers its players a simple, feature-rich sports betting product, offering a vast selection of sports betting opportunities across all major leagues, tournaments and events around the world.

Bodog’s exciting and fast-growing multi-player online poker community features Texas Holdem, Omaha, Omaha Hi/Lo, 7-Card Stud, 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo and 5-Card Stud.

Bodog has several branches covering the international market, the European one, the Chinese one besides the Canadian one with Bodog.ca .

Bodog does not offer online gaming services within the United States of America. Morris Mohawk Gaming Group (MMGG), located in the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake and led by Olympic gold medalist and First Nations leader Alwyn Morris, is the exclusive licensee of the Bodog brand for online gaming services in that jurisdiction.

BodogBrand.com, created in 2005, is an entirely new model of venture partner: one that takes the vast, contained energy of a globally-recognized brand from one sector, couples it with deep branding expertise and financial depth, and unleashes it to propel new ventures to prominence in complementary industries. A model that respects the entrepreneur and understands that “ventures synergies” is not some marketing buzzword, but has the potential to be the foundation of an entirely new way of doing business.

BodogBrand.com holds the global rights to license the Bodog brand across all sectors and its mandate is to partner with carefully-selected licensees to license the brand to accelerate partner growth, while extending the BodogBrand.com into new and vibrant markets.

So fellow Canadian players, be sure to check the Bodog.ca website !

Posted by George in Casino News, Poker | No Comments » September 7th, 2009

It has been a monumental year for the Bodog brand and its licensees, and Bodog is excited to officially announce yet another key milestone in the brand’s history: the launch of the Bodog experience to the Canadian market. Perhaps fittingly, Bodog Europe’s launch of www.bodog.ca coincides with the 15-year anniversary of the Bodog brand, for the first time giving Canadian players the ability to cash in on some hot new promotions just in time for the remainder of the CFL season and the beginning of the NFL and NHL seasons.

Bodog Europe is lead by industry veteran and Managing Director Keith McDonnell, and is regulated and licensed by the Antigua & Barbuda Financial Services Regulatory Commission, Directorate of Offshore Gaming. McDonnell noted, “We’re extremely excited to be able to bring the unique Bodog experience to Canadian players.

Canadians are passionate sports fans and are extremely savvy consumers. The Bodog brand is known world-over for its unmatched customer service and here at Bodog Europe we put the player’s experience and entertainment ahead of all else – I’m confident that we’re going to quickly earn Canadians’ loyalty and trust.”

Bodog.ca offers Canadian players safe, secure and simple access to world-class sports betting, a thriving and dynamic poker community, and a full Vegas-style casino with more than 80 web-based and downloadable games. Bodog Europe offers its players a simple, feature-rich sports betting product, offering a vast selection of sports betting opportunities across all major leagues and featuring live betting and an 80+ track Racebook.

The Bodog.ca Casino and Sportsbook also has a particular focus on Canada’s most popular sports: NHL Hockey and CFL Football.

Bodog Europe – the upstart Bodog brand licensee already taking the UK by storm with its European-facing site www.Bodog.co.uk – had originally secured the rights to the world-famous “Bodog” brand for use in Europe only. However, when Bodog Europe Managing Director Keith McDonnell learned of BodogBrand.com’s willingness to entertain proposals to license the brand for use within Canada, he was quick to act, and secured the exclusive Canadian license.

“The Bodog brand is celebrating its fifteenth year anniversary this year – an absolutely remarkable pedigree and testament to its enduring values in an industry that quickly kills off mediocrity.

The brand has gone through quite an evolution during that long history, and Bodog Europe is looking forward to carrying the torch forward for at least another fifteen years of world-class customer service, unbeatable promotions, and, above all – fun.”

Click here to check the Bodog.ca Now!

Posted by Diana Sterling in Casino News | No Comments » September 3rd, 2009

A Woodbridge, Ontario, woman got a $9-million nest egg this Easter.

Anna Falco, 53, hit the jackpot at Canadian Casino Rama just before midnight Saturday, setting a record for the largest slot payout in Canadian history at exactly $8,920,622.89.

The housewife, who’s been going to the Orillia-area casino with her husband Franco for about 10 years, had been playing the Megabucks slot machine for an hour, spending about $200, when the bells and whistles started to ring.

“When we called our two daughters to share the good news, they thought we were kidding,” an emotional Falco told casino officials as she collected her super-sized cheque.

The couple plans to share their winnings with family and friends.

The nearly $9-million jackpot is also the largest win in Rama’s history, a casino spokesman said.

The previous Canadian record slot win was in October 2004 when a Toronto tax accountant won nearly $5.8 million after spending $60 on a Megabucks progressive slot machine at Niagara’s Fallsview casino.

Megabucks is a slot machine system linking 11 Ontario casinos to escalating jackpots. The jackpots begin at $1 million and continue to climb until someone at one of the 11 casinos hits the winning combination.

Posted by Diana Sterling in Casino News | No Comments » April 1st, 2008