Money.  Let’s be real, it’s all about the money when visiting a casino like Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs is not the best casino I’ve been to, but it’s not the worst either.  In this article I’m going to share with you some money saving tips that if used throughout the year should net you a free nights worth of play. (Maybe more)  It’s in the departments of  obtaining your gaming money. NO, not how to make it (job) more like how you transfer your money “gaming bankroll” around.  I’ll also cover some tips on TIPPING!

Fees!  Stop paying em.  Up to $4 – $5 dollars on some ATM’S these days!  What are we NUTS?  The other day I used a bank machine to get myself $20 for an early morning breakfast. It was an older mom and pop eatery, that did not accept cards. – Fees?  $3.50!  For a $20 dollar withdraw?   Cmon!  These fees are insane!

Ok, so let’s talk saving money!  Saving money while visiting Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs or any casino for that matter.

Here are some things to consider if you visit casinos often like Big Daddy.

1. Grab your cash right at the bank, know your budget, take out only  what you need for your night of action! Nothing more.
2. Budget your play.  When you hit the end of your budget, stop and leave.  “Live to fight another day..”  Nobody wins every session.
3. This is a huge one!  When you win, leave a winner!  Buy something nice! Pay annoying bills like oil, electric and sewer.  Make it so they can never get it back!  DO NOT DUMP IT BACK IN!  Save it!  Go back to your normal gaming budget for the most part, if you increase bets, do it in small steps.
4. When playing slots consider this suggestion.  Every time you hit a substantial jackpot, say,$50 or more, hit the payout button and start pocketing the tickets.   This give you time to step away or at least STOP play to think about where you are at.  You might be surprised to see how many times you are up a good penny.
5. Order 2 drinks at once and tip the $1 that is the norm.  This will save you 50% in tips, plus – you’re also saving yourself from times when no cocktail waitresses are around.
6. If playing poker, tip your dealers only when you pull in a pot that is above $20*,  I can’t tell you how many thousands of dollars I tipped over the years with super small pots, $10 and under.  Big Mistake!  The tips add up FAST!  Watch the RED chip tips as well, a 2-3 dollar tip is also very good.  *Dealers, don’t be upset by this.. Many nights players  tip 100 plus between cocktails and dealer tips and walk out of the casino broke.
7. Surcharge free ATM (see below for 2 area tips), and or asking for MONEY BACK while shopping at Wal-Mart or Sams Club, etc.
8. Hard for poker players, especially the ones playing tourneys everyday… but car pools save a good amount of gas.
9. If you’re feeling tired, ill or angry/upset, stay home.  (Trust me on this one, I live by this simple rule.)  We need to be in the zone when gambling.

I’m sure there are other ways I save, just can’t think of them all at the moment. Do you have any tips?  Please share them with us in the comments below.

Here is two tips for players going to Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Casino.

Maybe you know this, maybe you don’t.  The Sheetz convenient store, near the entrance to MoheganSunPocono casino, has a free ATM machine.  It might work out for you to gas up and get your gaming money there saving you those nasty $3+ fees on the casino floor.

Surcharge FREE ATM machine, Sheets Gas station just outside the Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs

Another tip – (This one is sorta hush hush) The casino will cash a “good check” for players, so if you keep one in your wallet or purse you can always go to the casino itself.  Just ask for a slot host or one of the managers.  I’m not sure, but I’d guess they would take any good check, any amount.  I’ll try to find out the scoop on this one as far as amounts, but it has been done by a good poker playing friend of mine.  Use a personal check, save the fees!  Might be good for keeping track of your gaming budgets as well.

Get used to using all these tips and you will gain a session or two a year.  Ben Franklin always said, a penny saved is a penny earned, right?  Big Daddy says it too!

Hoping you have great Luck!

Big Daddy

P.S. Poker players always ask me what they should be tipping once they cash in a poker tourney.  My research says 1% to 5%, (of your profit)

This new category (tab) will be for the tracking of  Big Daddy’s weight loss fundraiser.  Pledges, goals, news, videos, etc.

Big Daddy Pledges per Pound fundraiser has begun!

See first day weigh in images by clicking here.  See results of first weeks gain/loss below.

***

Big Daddy joined the Elks for veterans, Below is an image from last years Flag Day ceremony at the Hazleton Elks.  The event is one to see and is always attended by a large crowd.

Big Daddy, a professional photographer snapped this shot near the end, just as it started to rain.

This was my favorite photograph of the ceremony. The beat goes on. God bless our troops and their families.

FYI  – We are currently working on a special internet pledge form what will make things a bit easier to understand.  Until then,  you are welcome to leave your pledge amount in the comment boxes anywhere on this site. (Comment boxes are located under articles, please scroll down)   Please be sure to share this page on twitter and FaceBook.

If you made a pledge, thanks again!  If you have yet to do so, consider making a pledge today.  Big Daddy promises to not lose more than 200 pounds.  (maybe)  Pledges start at .25 cents a pound but truth is, Big Daddy will take whatever you offer.  Just make sure you use a legit email and that you are planning on sending in pledged amount next March, 2012.

Big Daddy in the late 90's - 2002ish (Go Phillies!) I'm playing and loving poker since 1991.

Let’s go!  Share this page today via email, word of mouth, facebook, etc…  Promote this fundraiser and cheer Big Daddy on!

Help him, bust on him, suggest diet tips,exercise routines, whatever,

have fun with it! Big Daddy will!!

Also,  If you meet up with BD playing poker at

Mohegan Sun Poker at Pocono Downs, say hi and maybe give him a high five!

Pennsylvania poker player, Elks member hits the scale hard at 435lbs.

First Weigh in results!

Big daddy lost 6 pounds in the first week of his diet, he told everyone he was on a mission.  Once committed to a Veterans project, he’ll lock in like a lazer beam.

Big Daddy speaks - "Truth is, I was not sure how well I did during the first week, was actually scared hopping on scale.. even though I knew I cut out eating the garbage." Down 6 pounds. Go Big Daddy go!!

Poker player hoping to win big for the troops, veterans by being the next biggest loser.

On a normal day, hell, not on any day does a poker player  like talking about being the biggest loser,  today is not a normal day! I’m not sorry for what you are about to see. Brace yourselves.  lol, if it get’s us traffic, if it get’s us more pledges.. it’s all good to Big Daddy!  (For our Veterans!) Please be sure to share this all over FaceBook and Twitter.

Big Daddy needs to drop a few!  Dr’s, friends and families orders!  Well, since I’m passionate about helping veterans (check out some of our events here) and because I like to entertain, why not make some additional good come out me starving myself, put some pressure on, and let people track the loss as I go.  (PLEDGE .25 cents and up Per Pound)  It will be real!  I expect it will be painful at times, it might even show ups and downs, one thing for sure though, I will lose this weight for our American hero’s.  My goal.  100+ by Next St. Paddy’s day.

Big Daddy in the late 90's - 2002ish (Go Phillies!) I'm playing and loving poker since 1991.

Winters can be tough in Northeast Pennsylvania so when visiting Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs in the deep winter, keep this in mind. 365 days from now we will once again be wishing for spring.   Poker players have an edge, playing poker at Mohegan Sun, Pocono Downs. With legal poker now a regular thing in Pennsylvania, it sure helps make the time go by faster.  It’s not all good however. Being a grinder is not the kind of sport to have you burning up the calories keeping your weight down.  It’s just the opposite actually.  I guess Big Daddy picked the wrong sport to love.

Let’s Help the Elks raise some much needed funds.  Hazleton Elks Lodge #200 (my lodge)

One year from now I hope to present my local Elks Lodge #200, (I’m a past President) in Hazleton Pennsylvania, a nice income for the many, much needed services we Elks provide to our Veterans and active troops. I’ll need your help for sure.  If you like, you can share my story on FaceBook or email this web address and article to friends,  hang a few posters.  Get creative!

It’s been only 2 days of running and the “Big Daddy Pledges Per Pound weight loss“  fund raiser, has just “one” of my lost pounds already worth about $20.00 (What this means is, if  I was to lose 100 pounds, we are talking  $2,000.00 for the Hazleton Elks #200 Veterans Committee.  (*with all pledge checks  mailed to the lodge)  Think about what we can do here?

So here we go!  Please pass this info on!  Share this page.  “Like” the page and most importantly, “**Make a Pledge!”*** Get some hype going for us because Big Daddy will deliver!  I have to get it done, I made a promise to his hero’s, Veterans and the men and women of all U.S. Armed forces.  (With today’s news on a possible action in Libya, let’s face it.  Our troops are stretched to the max!  Let’s show them how much we care)  Elks Care – Elks Share.

Poker Player Tom Dwyer “Big Daddy” hits the scales.

To the Scales Batman!  (Not talkin your bathroom scale here folks! No No!) We needed to call in the big boys! Big Daddy asked some friends at the warehouse for use of the big toy, big load scales!  As promised!  Here are the images from the first weigh in. Maybe you guessed it right on my FaceBook page?  I think one the Big Daddy girls  guessed it right!  (Free t-shirt winner)

Pennsylvania poker player, Elks member hits the scale hard at 435lbs.

I pulled the t-shirt up for effect. ha ha.  Maybe.

So there you go!  Make your Pledge and I’ll start dropping the pounds.  Just to show that this is on the up and up, here are some of my pals (Bosses are pals two great guys, who just happen to be slave drivers) They were there to shout out and verify the total.  If you read my blog a good while now, you know I had health issues in the past and that I took a security job at this warehouse to help get back on my feet.  (and to have my balls busted every day!)  It worked, but for interesting reasons and because I wanted to do more in the poker world.  I left, or was left go.  (I forget) Something like that. No need to get into the details now.  I enjoyed being there very much, as I enjoy all people, and get this, after hours I was able to play online poker!  How cool is that!  I made more $ online then as a guard for sure.  Some days I lost a months security wage.   Good times!

I was there about 2 years.  I was even asked to come back.  Thanks guys!  Schedule will no longer allow it.. Bummer.

What the hell are they smiling about! Oh! I know, it's lunch time and they get to eat in front of Big Daddy - Two great guys! Jeff and Mike.

Big Daddy girl 4 sure, they all love me. Note the team, Cowboys (My wife's team)

I got girls everywhere to cheer me on!  I love em all too!  Every single one of them.  Big Daddy of course loves the ladies!

I worked a long time on my gut, I called it "the ledge" I'm often resting my beer and cell phone on there. It's true. Consider the moobs a bonus for stopping by and pledging.

No matter what happens, these guys will always be management and I’ll always be Big Daddy!  Here is the shot where they ate in front of me, trying to mess me up!  No can do boys!  That’s rookie stuff!  Up your game boys!  I’m all in!

No room for Big Daddy at this table. It's all covered with hoagies and chips and crap. Plus, Big Daddy is not manageable in anyway and they all know it.

So here we go!  365 days to go!   Did you make your pledge yet?  ALL CHECKS ARE TO GO DIRECT TO THE HAZLETON ELKS LODGE #200 in Hazleton, Pennsylvaina.  Payments will be requested/due March 17, 2012.  as this is when Big Daddy will come collecting!  Make you pledge today and again – please share this fundraiser on FaceBook and Twitter as often as possible.

Hey God Bless our troops!  God Bless our Veterans.

New Big Daddy girls (all ages!) are always welcome to apply!

A few more for St. Paddy’s day and for those who read the whole post.

The Big Daddy Girls and “Elks lodge Cheer-leaders”

Big Daddy had them all smashed on green beer. I give you the Elks Big Daddy "Irish Cheer Leaders!" Lift them high as we toast our Veterans!

Warning!  Reading beyond this point may cause blindness, please have young children leave the room.  Big Daddy and St. Paddy’s day is well.. I dunno.  I don’t drink often, but when I do.. My volume goes to 11.

Last Warning!

The image after the shot and beer you look at (at your own RISK) It’s not for the weak.

It’s totally alien “AREA 51″ type stuff.

I do not drink often, I'd guess 10/15 times a year, not including wine. When I light the fuse, or when I shout "goggles on, tonight we ride!" I've been known to take my shirt off and get a little silly. BEWARE OF THE NEXT IMAGE! STOP! Anything can happen on St. Paddy's day!

For my favorite Big Daddy girl, with rock star status “Jade!”

You rock my world.

This picture was not going up, I mean look at it, but you know what? When one of my biggest fans and Big Daddy's favorite smoking hot BD girl "Jade" wants ACTION, to escape a little, to dream some sexy dreams. Big Daddy's happy to put it all out there. Plus, now you have to share these images, which will only help our troops, (and that's all that really matters to BD) It's like a train wreck. People will rubberneck this blubber 4 sure. (We love you Jade!)

Please help me get my pants back on! A smaller  pair.  Please make a pledge today for our troops!

Pledges in just 2 days are totaling over $25 per pound lost.  At 100lbs, that’s not bad for a few days!  Help us make it more!  Do something for out troops, get involved and pimp this everywhere you can. Please!  Love, Big Daddy.

You can make your pledge below by making a comment, name, email and amount per pound.

Starting at .25 cents a pound.

Big Daddy asks all his poker buds and non poker friends to belly up!  (Pun intended)

I’m cheaper than peaches! And there is Plenty to go around!  I’m dropping pounds for charity people.  Please help me raise money for our Veterans and as always, God Bless our Troops.

I have poker buds and friends from all over the world, we can do this!  I know “I’m doing it!”

Topping the scales at over 400 lbs and with blood sugars running wild, time for Big Daddy to make it happen and drop over 100 pounds. I will complete my mission and also raise money for my Elks Lodge #200 (Veterans Committee) "I want YOU to belly up a pledge today!" Thank You.

“I pledge $1 per pound on myself. (Hell that’s one small buy in in poker and NO paying till next St Paddy’s day!)

People, my wife, my Dr., friends, etc, are on getting on me about my weight, so I’m  running a biggest loser type fund raiser for our great US armed forces. I’ll show everyone what BDaddy can do and oh;  when I do such things , I get em done and  I beg like a dog for donations!

Look, Big Daddy needs your help! I need your friends help!  I need your momma’s help!  (Quarters add up) I’m asking you to follow along with my weight loss, watch videos, track progress, and to knock hoagies and chicken wings out of my hands/mouth should the need arise. I ask you to enjoy the entertainment while donating to a great cause.  Every time I lose a pound or two or three, you can  start plunking quarters or dollars in a bucket.  A year from now we can settle up.

Please spread the word around Mohegan Sun Poker Pocono Downs and casinos across the country.  I’ll have pledge sheets on me if you see me in the casino or poker room anywhere in the the US.  Friend me on FaceBook, “”like the page and share my FUND RAISER Cause with all your America loving pals.  Again, ONE year from now I’ll be collecting da money. *All checks can go direct to the Hazleton Elks Lodge #200 Veterans Committee with “Big Daddy fundraiser” on memo or you can hand me the cash.  Your call.

Buying a piece of me at .25 cents a pound is such a bargain too.  Quality meats must be going  for what these days?  At least $5 to $10 a pound right? I know!  Steaks of quality are kinda my thing. Poker Players, fellow Elks,  and friends everywhere can “buy a steak” of  Big Daddy!   Dig Deep!  Do it for our American Heroes.  Make a pledge today.

Next year at the St. Patty’s day parade (Scranton, Pa.) I’ll be getting ripped on green beer and doing the Irish jig at least 100 pounds lighter.  Bank on it!  So, if you pledge .50 cents your talking a donation of $50 to our Elks Veterans committee (Lodge #200 Hazleton) by March 30, 2012.  Payments can be mailed directly to the lodge.  If we know you, please make a comment with your pledge below, or send your pledge to us direct. dwyertj@xfilespoker.com  (Amount of pledge per pound, name, address, phone/email)

The front of our Hazleton Elks Lodge is where the war memorial was placed. Bricks are still availiable if you would like to purchase one for a family member in the service.

Donation examples, should I. No, scratch that, when I – Lose 100 pounds. (I might lose more…

• Pledge .25 cents, it’s a $25.00
• Pledge .50 cents, it’s a $50.00
• Pledge $1.00 and your entering rock star status, it’s $100.00
• Pledge $5.00 – Forgettaabboouutt itttt!  You are a Rock Star!  It’s a $500.00 donations.
• Pledge $10.00 – $1,000.00 donation
• Pledge $100.00 – $10,000.00 donations.
• Make a larger pledge than$100 per pound and you claim BIG DADDY status yourself.  (What, it could happen!) I have some BIG TIME friends!

Below is a photograph I took of the two service men saluting their fallen comrades,

to the right is a family who lost their son in war.

My wife and I put the young marine up at our home for a few nights.

He was from Harrisburg Pa. and was such a great young man.

He had it rough in the war but made it back.  Thanks Zach for a great weekend.

The marine on the right is a friend and a top money earning poker player online. He loves his country more than poker. That my friends is cool!

Here is a great close-up shot I snapped of Zack’s Marine uniform.

This was my favorite photograph of the ceremony. The beat goes on. God bless our troops and their families.

Poker players at Mohegan Sun Poker, Pocono Downs have a great room with great action but.

If I asked you where the center of the poker galaxy was I’d wager many reading this would say Las Vegas.  Am I right?  Is that what you were thinking?  No good.  Try again.  Hell, Big Daddy will just tell you and save you the brain pain.  California baby!! Now you know.

One of the more popular rooms is one I want to share with you today. This is the post I promised two days ago.  Hope you enjoy. It’s a little long but it ends with some great gossip.  Skip to that if you’re a lazy poker player.

The Bicycle Casino

I was only to California once and that’s a shame, wait. No, make that twice.  Once I spent a few weeks with my brother Drew a retired Marine Col. (God bless our troops) and another time, which I somehow almost forgot, we drove 5 hours plus from Las Vegas  in a hot rod lincoln of course, to see the tonight show with Jay Leno.  That’s a silly story in itself so I’ll share it quick.  I woke up one morning at the Golden Nugget and talked the family into a stop n go road trip to  California to see the tonight show, the plan was – drive over, see the show and return to Vegas to catch the show in our hotel room.  I told you it was silly.  Anyways.. we did just that, we enjoyed the show, and started our return to sin city.  We arrived at about 1am.  We missed the show.  Ha ha!  I went out to play poker and all was good.  The family went to sleep.  Man the shit you do in Vegas.  Anyways. Back to The Bike as they call it.

Live at the Bike advertisement Banner ad

I’ve known about the Bike for years.  Talk about poker coming out of  California and it’s probably going to be mentioned in the top three.  It’s a room where you will find poker pros, regular joe’s and movie stars and shit.  Place sounds cool huh?

A cool new way to watch poker, let’s hope it’s the way of the future for poker tourneys being televised.  An online free show called “Live at the Bike.”

If you made it this far in this post, good for you!  It’s about to get really good and maybe even a little trashy around here.  I am not only about to share with you a cool new, must follow poker web site, Poker Netcast.  I’m going to tell you what you missed by not watching the Big Event this past week.  “Live at the Bike.”  I’m going to do all this for you because Big Daddy loves ya and because I love poker, then I’m going to play some poker at Mohegan Sun Poker at Pocono Downs Bitches!  Cmon!  Hit me one time dealer.

Final four players playing some great poker during the FREE to watch "Live at the Bike" event 2011. Victor Ramdin, Poker Stars pro won the event. Joe Hashim came in 2nd.

You know what, screw all that let, I wanna play poker too so let me just hit you with a bullet list of some of what you missed.

• Live at the Bike is the way of the future for poker purist who love to watch,learn real poker. It’s a live poker game, with a 90 minute delay (sounds wrong I know) but it’s cool.  The broadcast shows the players hole cards so you know every step of the way how players are deciding to play their hands.  Bluffs, semi-bluffs, all of it.  You even get to enjoy all the folding players must endure during games and how they cope.  The guys in this last event seem to have handled it with booze and food.  They were so relaxed, it was awesome.  I guess WSOP and WPT champs can play relaxed.  The info, link(s) below is  a great way for lazy, non book readers, lol, to learn how to play poker.  Just trust me.  It’s that good.  (C’mon Mike McDermott, read a book already)
• Joe Hashem (WSOP Champ) came in 2nd and for some reason did not want to play along with the games hole card feature. *the whole point of the show mind you. Ozzzy Ozzzy Oyy Veyyy. Joe was avoiding to place his hole cards on the cameras glass, about 90% of the time.  I now dislike Joe until he wises up.  Cmon Joe! WTH.
• Victor Ramdin (WPT, Foxwoods Champ) came in first. He was awesome to watch.  Basically poker enthusiasts  had the chance to watch two Poker Stars pros play heads up poker while  “seeing’ the cards they were holding.  OMG!  It was so fun to watch and to even learn some cool tricks.
• You missed the rather good job the commentators did covering the tourney.  I wonder why they feel the need to trash it up, I’ll admit it works somehow, let’s face it.  Poker has a trashy side to it.  I’ll cover more on them when they get a link to Mohegan Sun Poker at Pocono Downs. It’s only fair.
• Jamie Gold (WSOP champ) came on and did some cool talking about the gossip surrounding his being broke.  He’s not.  He also mentioned how he enjoys rasing money for charity now.  I dunno, I like Jamie.  He’s real and he never claims to be a top poker pro.  He says maybe some day.  Too much he wants to do outside of poker.  He figures, smartly I might add that poker is not going anywhere.
• You missed current WSOP champ Jonathan Duhamel (WSOP champ 2010) in the commentator booth. Man!  Are you getting it yet about California and Poker people?  It’s where all the real poker action happens.
  

• Do I really need to say more to get you to check out this site?  If so, You’re crazy!  Really?  OK, two more whoppers coming your way and then I’m done, you GET IT or you don’t about Ca. poker.
• You missed the top ranked female player Kathy Liebert dishing out some really cool jabs towards Full Tilt Poker front man Howard Letterer.  “It was awesome!!’ Loved it loved it loved it! Howard is known as the “Professor” because of his studious look or more like “stare” or maybe due to his passion for chess.  Either way, I agree with Kathy, take away his step in shit rise to fame with Full Tilt Poker.  I’m not counting him as a top pro.  He too tight and rather boring.  But hey, he’s loaded and I doubt he cares what Big Daddy thinks.

• 

  Jennifer Tilly signing off after her 90 min poker talk during the "Live at the Bike" tounament

• Last but not least?  38 year old hot chick, movie star, poker player (WSOP bracelet winner) Jen Tilly. (You’re welcome Jen, man ur hot for being in your late 30′s)  Oh my God!  I’d so bone her.  Shwingggg!  So get this.  Turns out Jen likes to “occasionally wear her WSOP bracelet around the house naked.” (Give me a second to catch my breath.)   Let us just soak this info in shall we?  I love it!  She’s a Big Daddy girl with that move no doubt!  Whoot!  Go Jen go!  She said many things during her time  talking up the live at the bike event and truth is, if you listened to her while the hands are going on, you learned some advanced poker strategy.  She was talking poker, talkin trashy and slamming Coronas with lime.  Jen Tilly.  Marry me.

If all this doesn’t  get you checking out this site, Big Daddy can’t help you.  You’re a certified donk loser who will be left on the rail forever.   Check it out!  I’m telling you – it’s great stuff.  Gheck it out! Poket Net Cast. Tell them Big Daddy sent ya and tell them how much you liked it.  If you do.  I’d like to see the WSOP and WPT doing the same sometime soon. Like this year.  I think it’s the future of  televised poker.

Top Big Daddy pick from all this has to be, Kathy Liebert who plain crushed it with the Full Tilt Poker pro “all out body slam” on Howard Letterer.  Poker gossip!  She says he’s a average player at best.  I say Kathy is a great player and that’s all i got to say about that.

Peace, I’m going to play some cards.

I caught Pocono Downs Poker fever.

Ok guys, sorry!  I never made it to my article on the “Live at the bike” online broadcast, I will.  Promise.  It’s worth the wait too, trust me. What can I say, I play poker and I got the bug. I’m a true rounder and good thing too.  Man, we had fun last night at Mohegan Sun.  The table was filled with fun loving poker players, well most of em. Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs, for me anyways was the place to be.  Adding to the fun I pulled a 3rd in the $65 Nl tourney.  $441.00.  I grinded the small stack to third, when it should have been no better than 5th or 6th.  Cool!

Most of all, I cashed even with having a  hex placed on me. Listen to this one.  Some goofball named David was super rude to one of my girls in the game. No good.  Never mess with a Big Daddy girl David.  He made a really vile gesture to her and if I had seen it, I’d have had him booted. (Tongue through fingers, cmon that’s 7th grade stuff) Anyways, later when we hit the final table he returned and started running his mouth big time.  Big Daddy’s girl was upset so I sent him packing!  About five minutes later this loon came back and shook his rock and roll fingers at me and declared he put a curse on me.  Dick.  lol.  Then he ran off.  I can’t run anymore but I wish I would have tripped him.  Would have been classic.

I’ve seen it all at a poker table but that one took the cake. A hex towards Big Daddy.  If shes willing I’ll write a story on the newest Big Daddy girl!  (Not just anyone can become a Big Daddy girl) Up to her and her husband.  I love poker and all the great “stories” and man, we had em in spades last night.  Overall the action was really good.  Mix of really good players and a few fish.  I was even able to take Mohegan Sun Poker room pro out of the action, Mike McDermott.  Mike, Insta call man?  Really? Read a book Mike!  (Inside joke)

No Mohegan Sun poker for me tonight.  Tonight we party!

Good friend Nick is having a birthday bash tonight at the Elks and Big Daddy will be there.  I had the privilege of taking this young lad on his first trip to Vegas! Let’s just say he cracked his Vegas cherry hard, like a rock star! He stayed with me at the Venetian during my WSOP gig.  Him and I had one of the most insane nights ever, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas right!  Let’s just say he had the dream trip!  Gamblin and carrying on, beer and uncountable shots “Irish car bombs”, dancing, nudity and ahhh – Nick has some moves with the ladies!  He rocked the suite at the Venetian.  I was a great wing man and he landed that 747 like a pro.  Man the band was great that night!  I somehow don’t see nights like this happening at Mohegan Sun Poker at Pocono Downs but if it did, Nick would have to be a part of it.  Happy Birthday Nick!  Happy birthday bud, even if you do like the Yankees.  Go Phillies!

If you’re hitting Mohegan Sun Poker today.. Avoid David and his hex and flop quads all day!

Cheers.

Pocono Downs poker players be ready for a fun and informative post later today.

Yours truly, Big Daddy spent hours watching the “live” poker action from California, Live at the Bike.  How about real poker, showing hole cards with a 90 min. delay.    I’ll be sharing some information, major drama (gossip) as well as super fun details from the broadcast.  plus table shots.  I’ll be sharing all this fun stuff with Pocono Downs , Mohegan Sun poker players because I know out of the 4,000 people to have viewed parts of it live coverage, it’s a great chance that I’m one of 3 to have even tuned in from the Poconos.  It really was a great show and players will want to see what they are doing out there at the Bike.

In the end, 2nd and 3rd made a deal which I tell you about now.  Final three agreed to give the 3rd place finisher an extra 30K from the second place position.  Joe Hashim WSOP champion,  Annand Mahendra “Victor” Ramdin, wpt Foxwoods winner. and winning player Vegas, Jeremey Ausmus.  New players and player not knowing much about “chop” deals can learn a lot by checking it all out.

The Big Event at The Bicycle Casino

Live at the Bike advertisement Banner ad

I really think this way of presenting poker matches is the way to go.  I’m a poker purist and tomorrow I’ll tell you why.  Don’t spend 8 hours plus looking for the good meat.  Be here later tomorrow at Mohegan Sun Poker at Pocono Downs and grab the juicy details.

Actually as I was writing this teaser.. the men decided on giving Jeremy a lock win $260,000.00  split the rest between Joe and Victor, LOCK, Joe – 290,000 Victor 285,000.  The winner, whoever that would be, then got the extra 100,000.  2nd place would receive and additional 50,000.  3rd would receive nothing extra.  Come back later today for the rest.

We need bigger tourneys at  Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs.

The level of play at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs is no doubt above average.

Back when I started rounding, 1991 – Poker was a much different beast.  Actually it was more like a puppy.  Back then, there were usually only 2/3 players that knew some tricks.  There were books on poker back then too but not too many players read them.  I picked up a few books in the 90′s but it was nothing like the choices we poker players have today.  Problem is, poker is ever changing and today’s game is not yesterdays, and it sure as hell aint like the games I played back in the early 90′s.  Another problem is not all poker books on the shelves are good.  Some plain suck as they are outdated.

Let’s talk Poker Books on Strategy.

The first books I’ll mention here on Pocono Downs Poker are from a FaceBook pal,poker pro and author of mine.  Frank Wiese. He’s a  real nice guy who will say hi from time to time so give Franks facebook page a visit and join up.  I really don’t have anything to add to what’s listed below but I can tell you that if you’re new to poker, his book(s) are worth a read.  I especially like the title of his new book and I’ll be picking it up myself when it comes out.

Here is the info Franks people sent me, or maybe it was Frank, he’s pretty down to earth.  I’ll add a banner at the bottom of this page  so you can go straight to purchasing one of his book(s) if you like – I believe his new book is now accepting pre-orders.

I found this cool image online (below) of Frank rounding with another friend of mine, WSOP poker champ Jerry “The Shadow” Yang. Frank is the player on the right.  The Shadow and I also exchange talk on facebook.

Two of my poker pals, Jerry "The Shadow" Yang and poker pro Frank Wiese

Frank Wiese, Poker Pro, author and poker coach.

“Frank Wiese (born c. 1973) is a professional poker player, author, and poker coach. He was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and has spent the majority of his life in Madison, Wisconsin. He has made a living playing poker in Chicago, Illinois and Las Vegas, Nevada for the last eight years. Frank moved to Las Vegas, Nevada over a year ago and has never wanted to live anywhere else.

Wiese has contributed numerous poker strategy based articles for the original ‘Australian Poker Weekly’Wiese, Frank. “Donk’s Gone Wild”. Columnist. Alfred Markarian. Retrieved 30 April 2009.. His column “Donk’s Gone Wild,” was a humorous and informative collection of his career as a professional poker player.

He has also written some poker strategy based columns for Poker Pro Media. This includes titles such as Poker Pro Magazine and Poker Pro Europe Magazine.

Frank Wiese is considered to be one of pokers best kept secrets. In his first book Eat Professional Poker Players Alive, he provided the ultimate poker book that gave you an unparalleled edge at the poker table.

If you like to build up your chip stacks considerably destroy the other players at the tournaments and cash games then, this is the product for you! Most poker books are misleading and out of date. Their teachings just don’t apply anymore. “Eat Professional Poker Players Alive!” has sold over 5,000 copies worldwide and does a great job of filling in the gaps where most authors left out.

After making the change from the Midwest to the Las Vegas / Los Angeles area, there were so many lessons learned. Frank’s new book “Beware of The River!” addresses all of the new experiences that he has gone through in the Cash Game Environment. There have been so many changes in how poker is played these days. After reading these books, you should have a solid grasp on the differences and be able to capitalize on other players mistakes.”

Hopefully if Frank is in the Tri -State  area, he will visit with Big Daddy and play some hands here in our neck of the woods.  Poker – East Coast style baby!  I’ll put you up Frank, if you like.  We are  a short 30 min drive through scenic Northeast Pennsylvania to the Mohegan Sun Poker at Pocono Downs casino. Who knows, maybe we can even get a book signing going.

You can purchase one of Franks books by clicking on this banner – below.

Spring is in the air in Northeast Pennsylvania as the first ever legal casino in Pennsylvania, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is set to bring harness racing back to life March 22.  The horses and riders are out doing their exercise runs. Let’s get ready for some “1 horse power” style racing.

Harness racing at Pocono Downs, Mohegan Sun starts on March 22, 2011 Here is a snap shot of the riders exercising their horses.

Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs is gearing up for the 2011 season and working on a great opening day with this special free money, free wager giveaway for all Pocono Downs Mohegan Sun players holding a “Racing Rewards” card.  Players must have a Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs Racing Rewards card for the free wager.  Bring a friend and receive an additional $10.

Pocono Downs has been around harness racing for 40+ years and as a child I’d spend a lot of time at the track with my father.  Back then, I’d even make the wagers for him. (13 years old)   Try that today!   My father and I used to sit next to Manny Gordon in the clubhouse.  Man I miss those days.  I always loved being around action!  Manny was cool.  (Manny was a local TV celeb that used the catch phrase.. “Enjoy! Enjoy! the great outdoors of Northeast and central Pennsylvania!”  He was a trip and a hell of a nice man.

If you’re looking for harness racing at it’s best consider and night outside next to the track “you will feel the ground shake as they pass the finish line” or inside for that old school real horse track feel.  Grab a beer and hot dog, pick an exacta box bet and chill.

Winners Circle Eatery and Pacer’s Clubhouse is available  if you’re feeling hungry or if you want to treat your lady to that special night out.  Reservations are suggested for Pacers Clubhouse and call early, ask for seating in the upper levels.  For those who cannot make it to the races, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs offers a Dial-a-bet service.

Big Daddy tip – Bring binoculars if you have them and be sure to snap some pics with your cell phone to share on my Facebook.

Horses and drivers return to live racing at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs, March 22.

If harness racing is what gets your heart pumping, March is your lucky month.  Opening day is March 22, 2001 and all fans are in for a treat.  Free Stuff from Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs.  Everyone loves free, so how about these apples?  Free admission, free parking and a free $10 wager.   March 22 is free wager day at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

Being a son to a father who lived at Pocono Downs before the casino days, I figure I’m going all in on March 22.  If they allow it , I’ll be purchasing a $10 exacta box or triple box ticket.  What the hell do I know about horses, I play poker.

Odds are fans of harness racing adventures are in for a cheap, “free” adventure come March 22.  Speaking of  Odds on adventures, here is a horse I remember winning a nice triple box bet with in the past, how about that.  See you at the track at Pocono Downs!  I’ll be the big guy in the poker t-shirt betting on underdogs.

I'm pretty sure this horse helped me win a nice triple box bet a while back.

Let’s all meet up at the track and claim our “free” $10 wager, watch the racing, then go play some cards.