Hard Rock giving away gift cards, slot play

Through April 28, Hard Rock Hotel players can earn extra gift cards or slot play. For every 7,500 points earned on their cards ($7,500 coin-in on slots, $15,000 coin-in on video poker; no point redemption required) Rockstar Club members can pick up ether a $100 gift card or $100 in free slot play.

The Gold Coast will have two "EZ Tax Giveaway" drawings on Tuesday and April 29. At 7 p.m. each day, 10 players (who must be present to win) will be selected to win $1,040 and one winner will receive $10,400. Entries can be earned at both the machines and the tables.

On Sunday, The Orleans will have a $15,000 "Tax Relief Drawing." Slot and video poker players earn one drawing ticket for every 200 points ($200 coin-in) earned from April 13. Players also can obtain entries at the tables and in the sports book. The drawing begins at 6 p.m., and winners must be present.

The Superbook Horse Handicapping Contest runs every Saturday at the Las Vegas Hilton with registration beginning at 10 a.m. Fridays. All entry fees plus $500 will be awarded in prize money. Both the Cannery and the Rampart are offering a no-entry-fee Horse Handicappers Contest on May 11, June 8 and July 13.

Sam's Town has opened a new nonsmoking area with more than 100 slot and video poker machines.

The new owners of Binion's (TLC Casino Enterprises) have improved the odds in two of their table games. Craps players can wager up to 10 times odds with a $5 minimum bet. Blackjack naturals now pay 3-to-2 on double deck and shoe games instead of 6-5. (While common on single deck games, a few casinos also pay only 6-5 on multideck games. So check before you sit down.)

And while we were checking changes downtown, we noticed that the 24 Karat Club at the Golden Nugget is no longer awarding points based on a set formula. Each machine has its own formula, and according to several people at the club, the number of points increases the more you play at one machine. Points still can be redeemed at a rate of 100 points equals $1 in cashback.

Bonus Point Days: Bighorn (Big Shot Club): 2x Fridays through Sundays; Cannery (American Can Club): 5x Tuesday, Thursday and April 28 and 30; Casino Royale (Club Royale): 2x 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 8-11 p.m., 3x 7-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.; Eldorado (Prime Rewards): 2x Tuesdays; Ellis Island (Passport Players Club): 6x Sundays and Tuesdays; 5x Fridays (some machines excluded); Hacienda (Club Matador): 2x Mondays and Wednesdays, 4x Tuesdays; Jerry's Nugget (More Club): 3x Tuesdays and Thursdays; Jokers Wild (Prime Rewards): 2x Wednesdays; Longhorn (Big Shot Club): 2x Fridays through Sundays; Plaza (Play Club): 2x Thursdays; Railroad Pass (Players Junction): 2x Mondays and 3x Tuesdays; Rampart (Club Rampart): 2x Saturdays; Sahara (Club Sahara): 2x comp dollars Wednesdays; Slots A Fun (Circus Players Club): 2x Wednesdays; Terrible's (Players Club): 3x Thursdays and Sundays; Vegas Club (Play Club): 2x Thursdays; Westin Casuarina (Players Club): 2x Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Player's Edge appears Fridays in Neon. E-mail Jeffrey Compton and Bob Dancer at jeffrey.compton@ compdance.com.