Raleigh Opening of the School for Vegas Moves Odds Toward Favor of Players

    RALEIGH, NC, June 12, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Gambling and gaming has been - and continues to be - big business. Now, North Carolinians can learn how to overcome the odds on beating the house at the School for Vegas, opening June 22 in Raleigh. To celebrate the opening, Thom Nelson, founder and manager, is inviting the public to the school's free open house events June 22, 23 and 24 at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. In addition to a tour of the facility and free games, multiple door prizes will be awarded as well as special first-time offers for a school card. The School for Vegas is located at 1401-A Diggs Drive, at exit 297 on the opposite side of I-40 from Raleigh's Farmer's Market. Reservations are required by calling 919-836-8008.

"I was in Vegas five years ago and it happened to be college spring break. The number of young people that I helped over 4 days gave me the idea to combine my passion for game play with my love of teaching," said Nelson, former Lutheran minister, NCSU chaplain, a 20+ year retired computer instructor from North Carolina State University, and an aficionado of games of chance.

Nelson went on to say, "We employ 10 seasoned dealers from the Triangle who will teach Black Jack, Craps, Roulette and Poker. We teach the table games - Blackjack because it has the best odds of winning, with a house edge of just over 1% in most casinos; the dice game 'Craps,' which has the second best odds, at 1.5%, and Roulette as it is simple to play. While poker rules are easy to learn, it is a game of skill with many layers and imparts useful life lessons. Most games other than Craps can be learned from a book or online. but all table games benefit from hands-on play, from regular practice, and from help from teachers .Our regular $25 fee covers two hour intervals of instruction and game play. In the late fall, SFV students have the option to take a field trip to a casino to try their hand at real games and show the skills they have developed."

Nelson cautioned that he's not promoting gambling, and he said even games with the best odds still can go badly. But, if you're going to gamble, being educated in the sport can give you the best chances of winning, and can minimize your losses when you do lose.

While North Carolina has long resisted expansion of gambling, laws first appeared in 1749, prohibiting debts great than GBP100. In 2005, the state sanctioned the North Carolina Education Lottery and along with the federal government recognizes the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who own Harrah's Cherokee, a casino on its Qualla Boundary territory in the Great Smoky Mountains. The tribe also operates a high-stakes bingo parlor and the opening of the new Valley River Casino & Hotel near Murphy in Cherokee County is scheduled to open later this year. Annually, at least $5 million of casino profits is given to the Cherokee Preservation Fund; an institution that pays for projects that promote non-gambling economic development, protect the environment, and preserve Cherokee heritage and culture. Another portion of casino profits goes to improving tribal health-care, education, housing, etc. Part of the revenue goes to the state of North Carolina, as provided by the agreement drafted by Taylor and Hunt.

The demand for gambling is driven by consumer income growth and state spending. Gaming in Las Vegas Strip peaked in 2007 with revenues of $6.83 billion, experienced a decline with the economic recession dropping to $5.55 billion in 2009 and grew to $6.50 billion in 2013.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL FOR VEGAS
Founded in 2015 by Thom Nelson, the School for Vegas teaches table game aficionados how to beat the odds and take advantage of the house. Games include black jack, craps, roulette and poker. Regular classes are offered seven days a week at 5:30 and 8:00 p.m . A photo I.D. and one-time membership fee of $40 is required (which covers $25 for the first 2 hour class). The School includes 12 tables in a 3,000 sq. ft. facility located at 1401-A Diggs Drive off Lake Wheeler's Road opposite Raleigh's Farmer's Market. For more information, or to make reservations, which are necessary, even for Open House evenings by calling 919-836-8008.

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