Kimo’s Vegas

Jonathan Duhamel won big in the World Series of Poker

Welcome to Kimo’s Vegas… The Players Edge!

YES, $8,944,310 – that’s how much money Jonathan Duhamel won in the 2010 World Series of Poker. The newly crowned champ, the first ever from Canada, defeated 7,318 challengers to the crown who paid $10,000 or won their entry in smaller tournaments … Say it with me: “Eh!”

HARRAH’S ENTERTAINMENT, which operates 10 casinos on the Strip, is changing its corporate name to Caesars Entertainment. It announced the change a few months after the company went private in 2008, but didn’t get around to it until now …

FACEBOOK FANATICS get deals directly from Harrah’s properties and the Palms on the new Facebook Deals iPhone app. Now through Dec. 29, the Palms is offering users free room upgrades and free extended stays. If you’re staying at a Harrah’s resort, get a free buffet or other goodies just by joining.

AND THE WINNER IS … in Eureka County, Nev., there was a tie for the office of clerk-treasurer. Incumbent Jackie Berg and challenger Carrie Wright each had 376 votes. According to state law, a tie-breaker for the newly elected official will be done the same way Las Vegas has been deciding winners for hundreds of years … by a draw of cards.

Charles Pa of Honolulu won $7,002 playing KENO at Main Street

LUCKY AT THE Main Street KENO machine: Charles Pa of Honolulu hit for $7,002.

SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS WITH … Bill Cosby Thanksgiving weekend at the TI, or Christmas (Dec. 23 and 24) with Andy Williams at the Las Vegas Hilton.

DONNY AND MARIE Osmond and producer Chip Lightman have resolved their differences, with both sides sworn to secrecy on the specifics of the deal …

MEANWHILE, lawyers for the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and the lawyers for Hard Rock Café restaurant chain are suing and counter-suing over the Hard Rock name. The eatery says the casino’s party image is offending its customers by displaying drunken debauchery, sexual harassment, violence and criminal behavior in the reality show Rehab: Party at the Hard Rock Hotel … Has rock gone soft in its old age?

IN AN INDUSTRY where flat was the new up … Casino revenue was up 2.8 percent year over year in September. That major about-face has casino operators optimistic about Sin City’s future. Steve Wynn said, “We’ve seen the bottom in Las Vegas. I don’t know how fast it’s going to get better, but I don’t think it’s going to get any worse.” Baccarat made more money than any other table game, totaling 17 percent of all gambling revenue last year.

KIMO’S VEGAS TRIVIA: In baccarat, face cards have zero value and the highest hand is a natural nine, a nine and a face card is an automatic winner. Players with an eight or nine for their first card will often chant “Monkey” (the game’s nickname for face cards) before turning over their second card.

LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY checks into Wynn’s Encore Theater the week of Nov. 29. On the guest list: David Copperfield, Terry Fator, Cheryl Burke, Jimmy Kimmel, Howie Mandel, Rod Stewart and more.

GET THE LATEST Vegas news: Text OCEANIC VEGAS to 32862 or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, online at KimosVegas.com, AroundHawaii.com and here in MidWeek. Kimo@KimosVegas.com.


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