When Hooters Hotel first opened, we mentioned that its video poker inventory was very tight and that we'd tell you if they ever offered competitive games. Well, the good games have arrived. The casino now has four "Optimum Play" machines (5 cent, 10 cent and 25 cent) with some of the games exceeding 100 percent payback (with perfect play and maximum coins bet). Several other loose video poker games also can be found, and the casino's slot club now returns 0.33 percent in cashback. More good news: At its bars, the casino is running a "Card-of-the-Day Bar Bingo" promotion paying cash bonuses for four-of-a-kinds and having nothing to do with bingo. The exact rules are too complicated to explain here, but it can be a good (and fun) deal for those who take the time to check it out.

Players hitting a $200-plus jackpot at the Vegas Club in April may pick up a logo polo shirt. There is a limit of five per player over the course of the promotion. Big Shot Club members hitting a $50-plus jackpot at either the Bighorn or Longhorn casino in April will receive a free six-pack of any available Pepsi product, with no limit on the number you can win.

Three times every Saturday (6:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.) in April, both the Eldorado and Jokers Wild will draw 10 names to win up to $1,500. Tickets are available beginning Sunday for slot, table game and live keno play. You must be present to win. Both casinos also are awarding $10 in bonus cash to players earning at least 250 points ($250 coin-in; no redemption required) on Wednesdays.

The Suncoast is giving Club Coast members substantial discounts every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in April (except Easter Sunday) to members redeeming their points for meals in lieu of cash. Members receive 75 percent off the St. Tropez Buffet and 50 percent off at Club Siena.

All nine major Station and Fiesta casinos are giving out a special commemorative gold coin featuring the specific property's logo to poker players logging in 20 hours of play during April. You may want to start at the Santa Fe, which just opened a 14-table poker room.

Bonus Point Days: Bighorn (Big Shot Club): 2x Fridays-Sundays; Cannery (American Can Club): 5x Mondays (some machines excluded), 6x Saturdays (video reels only); 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, 3x Thursdays; Ellis Island (Passport Players Club): 2x Saturdays-Thursdays, 5x Fridays (some machines excluded); Fiesta Henderson (Amigo Club): 5x Fridays; Fiesta Rancho (Amigo Club): 5x Fridays, 5x Saturdays 6 p.m.-midnight; Gold Coast (Club Coast): 2x Fridays-Sundays in April; Hacienda (Club Matador): 2x Mondays, 4x Tuesdays; Jokers Wild (Prime Rewards): 3x Thursdays; Longhorn (Big Shot Club): 3x Fridays-Saturdays; 2x Fridays-Sundays in April; Orleans (Club Coast): 2x April 8; Railroad Pass (Players Junction): 2x Wednesdays, 3x Thursdays; Rampart (Rampart Rewards): 2x Wednesday, 2x Mondays and Saturdays (some machines excluded); Sahara (Club Sahara): 2x comp dollars Wednesdays, double comp redemption Sundays and Thursdays; Sam's Town (Prime Rewards): 6x April 8; Slots A Fun (One Club): 2x Wednesdays; Suncoast (Club Coast): 2x Fridays-Sundays in April; Terrible's (Player's Club): 3x Thursdays and Sundays, double cashback Sundays-Wednesdays; Tuscany (Player's Club): 5x Sundays and Wednesdays; Wildfire (Wild Card): 7x April 8, 5x Saturdays, 2x Mondays-Wednesdays midnight-8 a.m.; Wild Wild West (Wild Card): 7x April 8, 5x Thursdays, 2x Sundays-Wednesdays midnight-8 a.m. (Note: Several casinos were unable to confirm their April bonus point schedules at press time.)

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