Mexican Riviera Cruise -- 5/3/2007

The Wizard's News

From the Wizard..

Still no money from Neteller

I've now been waiting for 106 days for my $30,000 in withdrawals from Neteller to be processed. As previously mentioned in our last update, Neteller reached a settlement with the FBI, which had frozen player accounts, and they promised to return funds to U.S. players over a span of 75 days. We're currently only around the midpoint of that timeline, but I've been faced with troubling news regarding Neteller. They've recently ceased processing transactions for Canadian players at online casinos, which was another significant sector for them. Furthermore, withdrawals to Neteller ATM cards have been halted, and those cards will no longer function after May 2. The trading of Neteller shares remains suspended, leading me to doubt I will see my money return.

South Point Points

I usually don't focus on local news about Las Vegas casinos, as there are plenty of reliable outlets for that information. One source I particularly enjoy is the Las Vegas Advisor . Yet, a significant piece of information that seems to have gone unnoticed is the 2-for-1 point split that took place when the South Coast changed hands and was rebranded as South Point on October 24, 2006. From what I've gathered, on this day, the total points accumulated, minus those redeemed at South Coast, underwent a 2-for-1 split. The points transferred to the new South Point card, while the original points still exist in the Club Coast account, which can be redeemed at Suncoast, Gold Coast, and Orleans. Players who only participated in double-point promotions at South Coast and did not redeem their points at that property effectively quadrupled their points, enjoying a 1.06% (99.73% + 4 * 0.0033%) benefit playing 16/10 deuces wild. Unfortunately, I redeemed my points at South Coast prior to this change, so I missed out on the opportunity to quadruple them.

Mexican Riviera Cruise

This spring break, I embarked on an eight-day cruise along the western coast of Mexico aboard the Norwegian Star, accompanied by my wife, two older children, my parents, and a couple of friends. It was a memorable experience for everyone, particularly the kids. Here’s a brief overview of our destinations and activities.

Acapulco: Our first stop was thrilling, and I was eager to make the most of it. I engaged one of the numerous taxi drivers that gather near the docks for a guided tour of the city. He took us through the popular tourist sections of Acapulco, showcasing extravagant hotels and a prominent church perched atop a hill. Having lived in Vegas, I’m not easily wowed by hotels, and being non-religious, I often feel out of place in churches. Overall, I got the sense that Acapulco is quite a bustling, noisy city. After the tour, we visited the iconic cliff diving site close to the old town square where cruise ships dock. The cliff diving performance is a must-see in Acapulco. A group of about six divers leaps from various heights into the sea at scheduled times throughout the day, climbing back up to repeat the act. The venue is conveniently located and has a vibrant atmosphere. Although it’s free, we opted to pay for a view from a restaurant patio, which was worthwhile. We then explored the charming old town square of Acapulco, which I appreciated, before heading back to the ship.

Ixtapa: The cruise ship anchored off the coast of Zihuatanejo, a picturesque town right by the beach. I believe this is where Andy from 'The Shawshank Redemption' ended up. (I hope that doesn’t ruin the movie for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.) After the bustling day in Acapulco, we were perfectly content to relax on the beach. Throughout the trip, I had been pestering locals to ask about license plates since I’m an avid collector and my collection from Mexico was lacking. After having no luck in Acapulco, my desperation grew for some plates. I heard a tip that the restaurant Señor Frogs in Ixtapa had some. So, I took my whole family on a short journey to Ixtapa, about 15 miles north. Upon arrival at Señor Frogs, I discovered the tip was completely false. Nevertheless, the limited sights of Ixtapa impressed me with its high-rise hotels and condos dotting the coastline, luxurious golf courses, and wide, quiet streets. It looked like an expensive vacation destination but left a favorable impression.

Puerto Vallarta: Though it didn’t seem quite as large as Acapulco, it still felt like a substantial city. The cruise ship moored at an inconvenient spot, far from everything except a Wal-Mart, which turned out to be handy for stocking up on t-shirts and supplies we had lost or used up. The quality there was far superior to the trinkets found at countless souvenir shops. We hired a taxi driver to take us to the main beach in the city; however, our driver suggested a quieter beach location a bit outside the city limits, nestled in a neighborhood of affluent homes. He returned to pick us up after two hours. From there, we could see numerous high-rise structures and a long, crowded sandy beach. Sadly, we didn’t have much time to explore Puerto Vallarta, so my experience there was limited.

Cabo San Lucas: This was the first stop I had previously visited. Two years ago, I enjoyed a delightful week near Cabo, close to San Jose del Cabo, thanks to a condo I won in a charity auction held by the Gambling Federation. In my opinion, the town of Cabo San Lucas isn’t particularly remarkable. However, the scenery is breathtaking, with stunning rock formations, including the famous arch, expansive sandy beaches, and beautiful desert landscapes. During my brief visit, we went on a glass-bottom boat tour, allowed the kids to play on a local beach, and dined at a wonderful restaurant named Mi Casa. As I conveyed in another context, I greatly prefer San Jose del Cabo compared to Cabo San Lucas, and I hope to revisit for another vacation opportunity. earlier newsletter The cruise ship experience was enjoyable and entertaining. Unlike my past trip with Carnival, this cruise offered a multitude of dining options, and I wasn’t obliged to eat at the same time every day with people I didn’t know. While a few restaurants required reservations, the main dining areas had open seating, meaning you could eat whenever you chose. The entertainment was excellent, with a range of activities available at all times.

The casino on board was sizeable and well-organized. If I recall correctly, there were around six active blackjack tables, one craps table, one roulette, one Three Card Poker, a live poker table, and a Texas Hold 'em Bonus game. The blackjack rules involved six decks, the dealer standing on a soft 17, no surrender option, and no re-splitting of aces, resulting in a house edge of 0.42%. The penetration rate ranged from 70% to 75%. The craps game offered odds of 3/4/5 times. Roulette featured a double-zero setup. Unfortunately, the video poker was quite disappointing. I played blackjack, participated in poker, and entered a blackjack tournament. The casino manager recognized my name, and we enjoyed an engaging conversation.

In other travel-related updates, my family and I are scheduled to spend a week at the Santa Barbara Family Vacation Center in July, located on the grounds of my alma mater, U.C. Santa Barbara. I’m looking forward to revisiting my old campus. The dormitory designated for housing is just a short two-minute stroll from my past apartment at the end of El Nido Road in Isla Vista. Then, in August, I plan an eight-day trip to Hong Kong and Macau, where I aim to lay the groundwork for a new website, WizardofMacau.com.

I seem to recall reading that the average winning hand for a dealer, excluding blackjack, is typically around 18.56. Today, in my role as an instructor, I sought to verify that fact for my students, but I couldn’t find the exact data. What is the accurate figure and how is it computed? Thank you.

Ask the Wizard!

Here's an excerpt from the newest Ask the Wizard , column #188.

The table presented below illustrates the average score for dealers, presuming they do not bust and have already checked for blackjack, based on different rules. Pay attention to how the average score rises with the number of decks used. More importantly, note that the average score increases by 0.0405 when the dealer plays a soft 17. The likelihood of the dealer busting is merely 0.00403 higher in the event the dealer hits a soft 17. That translates to an additional 10.05 dealer points per dealer bust. This should ideally highlight why it is disadvantageous for players when the dealer hits on a soft 17.-- Fred P. from New Orleans

: This is a unique poker game developed by me, available at Odds On casinos.

Average Dealer Total in Blackjack

Decks	Stand Soft 17	Hit Soft 17
1	18.840371	18.880098
2	18.842648	18.882868
3	18.843415	18.883798
4	18.843826	18.884288
5	18.844053	18.884564
6	18.844205	18.884720
7	18.844292	18.884880
8	18.844370	18.884981

What's new on the site

• Mulligan Poker : A detailed examination of bingo games hosted at Gold Coast and Suncoast.
• Coast Casinos Bingo : A blackjack variant where players can split any 15 or 16 and have a second chance while doubling on hands ranging from 9 to 11.
• Power Blackjack : This innovative game merges elements of pai gow poker with baccarat.
• Foxwoods pai gow house way : Newly enhanced with lots of examples.
• Two Cards High : A new section dedicated to the probabilities surrounding Texas Hold 'Em bad beats.
• Bad Beat Jackpots Until we meet again, aim high with your expectations.
• New blackjack side bets: Bust It , Straight 8's
• Ask the Wizard columns #186 , #187 and #188 .

A glimmer of hope for online gambling in the U.S.

From Michael Bluejay..

Recently, U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass) introduced a bill aimed at regulating online gambling across the United States. This legislation would mandate that operators verify players are over the age of 18, deny access to those from states where online gambling is illegal, and comply with various other regulations. With proper regulation, the U.S. market could potentially reopen, albeit with certain limitations outlined below. It's important to note that some operators, such as Bodog, never exited the U.S. market.

What are the negatives? The primary concern is that many experts believe the bill is unlikely to succeed. Additionally, there are several concerning restrictions, including provisions that would permit sports leagues to prohibit betting on their matches, meaning no wagering on NFL or NBA games. Nonetheless, most industry figures are rallying in support of the bill, as it’s a step forward rather than nothing, and it's crucial for us to shift direction towards a more positive outlook, ruling out the inconsistency of the government telling adults they can’t gamble when 41 states operate lotteries with far worse odds than those typically found in Vegas or online slot machines.

Explore the Finest Online Casinos Available in Your Nation(more on the bill from GPWA .

Calculator for Lottery Jackpot Ticket Sales( Beta News , Poker News )

Bet on Politics

In the last newsletter Participate in Slot Tournaments Offering Huge Prize Pools

Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp

Did you know that the average cost of car ownership Today marks the 106th day since I requested my withdrawals of $30,000 from Neteller. As outlined in our previous newsletter, after a settlement with the FBI that had frozen player accounts, Neteller revealed plans to refund U.S. players within a 75-day timeframe. We're only halfway through this duration, but I’m receiving alarming updates about Neteller. They have ceased transactions involving Canadian residents and Internet casinos, which was a significant market for them. Additionally, transfers to Neteller ATM cards have been halted, and those cards will become inactive after May 2. The trading of Neteller stock remains suspended, diminishing my hope of seeing my funds again. I move it by bike Typically, I don’t pay much attention to local casino news in Las Vegas since there are plenty of reliable sources for that information. I particularly enjoy reading the

. A noteworthy announcement that has mostly gone unnoticed is the 2 for 1 points division that occurred with the South Coast's change in ownership to the South Point on October 24, 2006. Basically, on that day the total points accumulated, minus those redeemed at the South Coast, underwent a 2 for 1 split. The points transferred to the new South Point card, while the original points still reside in the Club Coast account, which is still valid at the Suncoast, Gold Coast, and Orleans. Players who only engaged on double point days at the South Coast without redeeming their points at that venue effectively earned quadruple points, translating to a 1.06% advantage when playing 16/10 deuces wild. Sadly, I redeemed my points at the South Coast prior to the split, which meant I missed out on the quadrupling.

During our spring break, my family and I enjoyed an eight-day cruise along Mexico's west coast on the Norwegian Star. The trip was filled with laughter and enjoyment, especially for the children. Let me share a brief overview of our destinations and activities. Rock & Roll Fantasy Camp Acapulco: This was our first stop and I was eager to explore the area. I enlisted a cab driver who was waiting near the cruise terminal to give us a guided tour of Acapulco. He took us through the tourist hotspots, showcasing luxurious hotels and a prominent church perched on a mountainside. Living in Las Vegas, I’m hard to impress when it comes to hotels, and I don’t have much interest in churches. From my observations, Acapulco felt like a bustling, vibrant city. After the tour, we visited the famous cliff diving site in Acapulco, located near the town square and cruise ship docks. Watching the cliff divers is a must-do in Acapulco, as they dive from various heights into the ocean at scheduled times during the day, then climb back to do it all over again. The setting is picturesque and atmospheric. Although it’s free, we opted to pay for a restaurant patio view, which proved to be money well spent. We then strolled around the old town square of Acapulco, which I found quite delightful, before heading back to our ship.

Ixtapa: In actuality, the cruise ship anchored near Zihuatanejo, a charming little town right by the beach. I think this was the place where Andy from The Shawshank Redemption ended up. (I hope I didn’t spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.) After the bustling day in Acapulco, we were looking forward to relaxing on the beach. Throughout the trip, I made it my mission to ask every local I met about license plates. As a passionate license plate collector, I’m lamenting my scarce collection of Mexican plates. Having come up empty in Acapulco, my desire for plates was even stronger. Someone suggested that the Señor Frogs restaurant in Ixtapa might have some, so I took my family on a short journey to Ixtapa, about 15 miles north. When we arrived at Señor Frogs, I discovered the tip was unsubstantiated. Despite this, I found Ixtapa impressive with its towering hotels and condos lining the shore, immaculate golf courses, and calm, wide streets. It looked like an affluent vacation destination, leaving me with a great impression.

Puerto Vallarta: While it didn’t appear as large as Acapulco, it was still a significant city. The cruise ship anchored at a rather inconvenient spot, far from the attractions, except for a Wal-Mart, which was useful for stocking up on shirts and essentials that we had lost or run out of. The quality there surpassed what you can find in countless souvenir shops. We hired a taxi to take us to the main beach but our driver suggested a quieter beach slightly outside the town’s central area, in a neighborhood of upscale residences. He returned for us after two hours. From that beach, we spotted plenty of tall buildings and an expansive sandy beach filled with tourists. Unfortunately, our time in Puerto Vallarta was quite limited so I can’t provide much detail.

Free book drawing winner

Cabo San Lucas: This was the first destination I had previously visited. Two years prior, I enjoyed a wonderful week on the outskirts of Cabo, near San Jose del Cabo, where I won a condo in a charity auction sponsored by the Gambling Federation. In my opinion, Cabo San Lucas isn’t particularly remarkable, but the scenery is breathtaking, showcasing stunning rock formations (including the famous arch), endless sandy beaches, and beautiful deserts. During my brief visit, we took a glass-bottom boat tour again, let the kids enjoy a local beach, and dined at an exceptional restaurant named Mi Casa. As I have mentioned before, I find San Jose del Cabo far more appealing than Cabo San Lucas. I look forward to returning there for another vacation when the chance arises. Gambling 102 The cruise ship experience itself was delightful and enjoyable. Unlike my previous journey with Carnival, this ship offered numerous dining options, allowing flexibility without needing to eat at the same time every day with strangers. While reservations were needed at some restaurants, the main ones provided open seating, welcoming you to dine at your convenience. Entertainment was diverse and plentiful, with many activities to choose from.

See ya next time!

Read back issues

Visit Wnternetradiomercedes.com

Written by: Michael Shackleford