February 11, 2012

Furballs & Footballs: In Search of Pigskin Purrrrfection

November 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sometimes in life, in order to accomplish great feats, you need to think outside the box – in this case… the litter box.
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Like for many, the lure of the Million Dollar Parlay Card for football games, offered every Wednesday and Friday at Station Casinos’ Sports Books across the Las Vegas Valley, has been too tempting to ignore. The task is daunting: correctly pick 20-out-of-20 college and/or pro football games, against the spread, to win
$1 million. The $5 card offers something everyone enjoys: a fun chance to risk little and win big while calling the shots.

Anyone who wagers on football knows how difficult it is to pick 20 out of 20. (Before you say it can’t be done, check out Dohn, who hit 15-for-15 for $100,000 a couple weeks ago.) So it’s not impossible, but after trying for several weeks it does seem out of my comprehension as a human. So for this week’s picks, I have tapped the animal kingdom and enlisted the help of Tochka. Tochka is a four-year-old Black Russian cat. When not licking himself, Tochka enjoys sleeping and eating (remember, he’s a cat). Tochka boldly made his 20 picks (I picked the same games) by selecting a treat from his owner’s right or left hand (see video where Tochka decisively takes Philadelphia to upset San Diego).

For the record, Tochka and I…

agree on:

  • Iowa over Ohio St.
  • Duke over Georgia Tech
  • South Carolina over Florida
  • Tulsa over East Carolina
  • New York over Jacksonville
  • Pittsburgh over Cincinnati
  • Carolina over Atlanta
  • Tampa Bay over Miami
  • Oakland over Kansas City
  • Arizona over Seattle

disagree On:

  • Mississippi (T) and Tennessee (CS)
  • USC (T) and Stanford (CS)
  • California (T) and Arizona (CS)
  • Missouri (T) and Kansas St. (CS)
  • Air Force (T) and UNLV (CS)
  • Washington (T) and Oregon St. (CS)
  • Auburn (T) and Georgia (CS)
  • Denver (T) and Washington (CS)
  • Philadelphia (T) and San Diego (CS)
  • Green Bay (T) and Dallas (CS)

If Tochka wins the million bucks, he has been promised a new scratching post as well as a lifetime supply of string. He seemed pleased at the prospect.

Filed Under: Gaming, Misc, Race & Sports, Sports Tagged With: ,

Underdogs & Hot Dogs: Great Giveaway off to a delicious start

October 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Station's race & sports director says you got to take a chance if you want to win big in the Great Giveaway football contest!

Station's race & sports director says you got to take a chance if you want to win big in the Great Giveaway football contest!

Three weeks into the Great Giveaway football contest, and two bites into a second hot dog (That’s an oh-so-subtle company plug for $1 hot dogs during football games on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays at our sports books. Budweiser beers are a buck, too, by the way.), one thing is becoming clear: craigstations better start doing better at picking these games if craigstations wants to win the grand prize of a new house.

With the maximum three entries, me best ticket so far is 33-14 after opening weeks of 12-3, 10-6 and 11-5, respectively. In case you didn’t know:

  • 65 (that’s right, 65!) very, very smart/lucky contestants went 15-0 in Week 1
  • Week 2 the winning record was 15-1 (did anyone pick Cincy over GB?) and only two (that’s right, only two) contestants had that best one-loss record
  • Last week, Week 3, six prognosticators went 16-0 (nice pick on Detroit)

Another “in case you didn’t know,” your picks as well as the records of the winners each week can be viewed online at www.mygreatgiveaway.com.

As for craigstations’ dilemma, and perhaps your dilemma as well, according to Jason McCormick, Station Casinos’ director of race and sports, the grand-prize winner in last year’s Great Giveaway had a final record of 172-70 (worst record, or most losers, was 68-174 last year). So, like we agreed, craigstations needs to step it up. What is really needed here is some expert advice. If there was only someone to ask…

“My advice in going after that perfect week is to take one ‘shocker,’ ” Jason says. “Take that one big underdog and then pick the rest of the games as you see them. If that big upset comes in you’ll be sitting up top all by yourself with $10,000 or a new truck!!  Also, put your picks in on Tuesdays and stick with them! Your first thought is usually ‘on the money.’ ”

Thanks for the insider info, Jason. More good news is that there are also unbelievable weekly cash prizes and a small fleet of sweet F-150 trucks up for grabs. In fact, if you get your picks in all 17 weeks and win nadathing all season, you get your entry fee back (see official rules). In fact, in fact, if you’re not part of Great Giveaway yet you can still sign up and win big each week (sans the house and other end-of-year prizes).

Now, where’s that third $1 hot dog?

Filed Under: Race & Sports, Sports Tagged With: , , ,

Station Casinos brings back popular football contests

August 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
This year's grand-prize winner of Great Giveaway will win a house.

This year's grand-prize winner of Great Giveaway will win a house.

LAS VEGAS – Station Casinos has brought back and expanded locations for its popular football contests including the $1.4 Million Great Giveaway, The Challenge and Last Man Standing and is introducing a new Million Dollar Parlay Card every Wednesday and Friday. All football contests will now be available throughout 16 sports book locations including all Station Casinos, the Fiestas and Wildfire properties.  There’s also no better place in town to watch and enjoy all of the excitement of professional and college football games than Station Casinos’ sports books. Adding to this year’s football festivities, guests can enjoy $1 Budweiser beers and hot dogs every Sunday inside any Station Casinos’ sports book during the entire regular football season games.

$1.4 Million Great Giveaway Football Contest
In its 23rd year, the Station Casinos Great Giveaway Football Contest is truly a “no risk” football season promotion allowing anyone who does not win any weekly or end-of-season prizes to receive their entry fee back (see details below). A $25 entry fee registers players to compete for their share of $1.4 million in total cash and prizes including the opportunity to win a 2010 FORD F-150 truck every week. Voted “Best Football Contest” in Las Vegas 15 years in a row by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Great Giveaway offers the most payouts of any football contest in town.

The contest, which only includes Sunday and Monday games, can be played at 16 properties including Aliante Station, Boulder Station, Fiesta Henderson, Fiesta Rancho, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa, Santa Fe Station, Sunset Station, Texas Station, Wild Wild West, Gold Rush, Barley’s, Wildfire Casino Boulder, Wildfire Casino Rancho and Wildfire Casino & Lanes.

Over the 17-week NFL season, Great Giveaway will award $30,000 each week with the top winner guaranteed either a $10,000 cash prize or a new 2010 FORD F-150 truck, and the top loser guaranteed $5,000 with a total of $10,000 in cash prizes awarded.  Great Giveaway will also award more than 400 contestants with end-of-season cash, prizes and free slot play totaling more than $660,000.  The contestant who picks the most season winners will win a new home valued at $200,000 or $100,000 cash. The popular “Fiddle in the Middle” returns with total cash prize winnings of $200,000 for selecting the equal number of wins and losses for the entire season.

There is a $25 fee per entry with no more than two paid entries per person allowed. Those who purchase two entries will receive a bonus third entry for free. Contestants may also use Boarding Pass, Amigo Points and WildCard points or Station Bucks for payment or partial payment of entries.

Contestants will also receive their entry fee back in free slot play if they do not win any weekly or end of season prizes.  Eligibility is based on paid entries only. Contestants must play all 17 weeks of the contest on all of their entries.

Contestants may register and submit weekly selections now for the $1.4 Million Great Giveaway with their Boarding Pass card at any of the 16 Station Casinos’ sports book locations. For added convenience, easy-to-use computer kiosks at each location allow contestants to register their weekly picks 24-hours a day. Weekly standings may be checked online at www.mygreatgiveaway.com.  End of season results will be announced on January 11, 2010.

Million Dollar Parlay Card
Five dollars could very well earn you a million dollars by playing the Million Dollar Parlay Card every Wednesday and Friday during the professional and college football season at any of the 16 Station Casinos’ sports book locations.  For a $5 wager, guests must select and win 20 professional or college football games against the point spread listed on the “Million Dollar” card to win one million dollars. 15 correct selections will pay $100,000 for a $5 wager.

The Challenge
It will cost you nothing for your chance at winning in this year’s Challenge. All contestants are guaranteed to receive their $500 entry fee back for playing all 17 weeks of the contest. The first place prize is $25,000, with second and third place winners collecting $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.  No more than one entry per person.

The Challenge is based on selecting five winning teams or totals against the contest line.  An over/under may be offered on one professional football game per week and one college football game per week may be offered. Management will select the total, college and professional games offered. Winners will be determined by the most points accumulated during the 2009-2010 college and pro NFL football regular season.

Additionally, contest participants have a chance to vie for a $50,000 winners’ bonus for selecting over 67 percent winners for the season. Also, the contestant who accumulates the most points over the final four weeks of the season can win an additional $10,000 prize. All contestants that register by Monday, August 31 at 11 p.m. will be eligible to receive $100 in their Sports Connection account.

“Our objective this year in re-creating The Challenge was to deliver a football contest that local sports gamblers simply had to get in.  I believe we have accomplished that,” said Art Manteris, vice president of race and sports book operations for Station Casinos.  “Just like with Great Giveaway, you have a free-roll at serious prize money; only in this case selecting against the point spread.  If you bet football, you have to get in The Challenge this year…period,” Manteris concluded.

The Challenge may be played at all 16 Station Casinos’ sports books. Deadline to sign up for The Challenge is September 12, 2009. Contest selections must be submitted by 9 a.m. each Saturday, except where there are Thursday games and then the submission is due prior to the start of the Thursday game time.

Last Man Standing Pro and College Elimination Football Contests
Contestants have the ability to win up to $200,000 in this year’s “winner takes all” Last Man Standing Elimination Football Contests available for both professional and college football. Last Man Standing is based on picking one winning football team against the contest line weekly at any of the 16 Station Casinos’ sports book locations.  Selections will be made against the point spread listed on the weekly contest card and if it is a winning selection, that entry will remain in the contest for the following week. The fee is $25 per entry. Each contestant may purchase up to four entries total with a fifth entry for free for both contests. The prize money will be awarded to the last contestant remaining. If the weekly selection is a losing selection or a contestant fails to submit a weekly selection, that entry will be eliminated. There will be no ties and all games will be half point spreads.

Last Man Standing may be played at any of the 16 Station Casinos’ sports books. $75,000 will be the minimum guaranteed aggregate prize for the professional football contest and $25,000 will be the minimum guaranteed aggregate prize for the college football contest. 100 percent of all entry fees will be returned as prize money. Thursday, Friday and Saturday college football games may be included.

New this year will be a $100,000 winner’s bonus to player who individually wins both the professional and college Last Man Standing contests.

The weekly contest card will be available in the sports books beginning Wednesday, September 9 and will then be available every Wednesday during the season. The deadline for signing up is September 12 at 8 p.m. for the college football contest and by September 13 at 9 a.m. for the professional football contest to be eligible.

All Station Casinos’ football contestants must be 21 or older, present valid identification to participate and be a Boarding Pass, Amigo Card or WildCard cardholder.

The 16 Station Casinos’ properties offering all of these great football contests include: Aliante Station, Boulder Station, Fiesta Henderson, Fiesta Rancho, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station, Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa, Santa Fe Station, Sunset Station, Texas Station, Wild Wild West, Gold Rush, Barley’s, Wildfire Casino Boulder, Wildfire Casino Rancho and Wildfire Casino & Lanes.

Complete rules, details and prize redemption information for all of the football contests are available in the respective sports books at all participating properties. Management reserves all rights.  For more information about Station Casinos, visit www.stationcasinos.com.

Filed Under: Gaming, Press Releases, Race & Sports, Sports Tagged With: ,