Author: vsafronov

I was lucky enough to play Texas Holdem at Seychelles in 2014 at Casino Eden. At that time, it was a new casino located in the eponymous residential complex Eden near the capital on the island of Mahe. This very friendly place immediately captivated me and I spent many nights playing Texas Holdem at Eden Casino. There I met the local patrons and learned a lot about the Seychelles gambling business. For example, a lot of rich people from all over the world live and rest on the island, but it is almost impossible to attract them to the casino. That the casinos on the islands are constantly opening and closing because they cannot generate the income necessary for survival. And that, in principle, you should not come to Seychelles to play in a casino 🙂

A motley company gathered at the poker table at Eden Casino – there were entrepreneurs from China, pensioners from Europe, and Russians who chose Seychelles as their permanent residence. Of all the players, I singled out one – Frank Tristan Poyet, a local who was 74 at the time. He was, in every sense, a player who looked impressive and played well poker and roulette. He was even allowed to walk around the casino wearing a hat (in general, hats are prohibited in all casinos for security reasons), he looked so cool in it and he was such a regular among the playing audience.

The management of Eden Casino was so friendly that I was allowed to do a small photo session in the VIP room. I interviewed Frank Tristan Poyet and took some cool photos with him.

I also played blackjack at Eden Casino – there were very good bonuses during  lucky hours. In fact, by playing blackjack just a couple of hours a day at Eden Casino with these bonuses, one could live comfortably on the Seychelles for a lifetime.

I wanted to definitely return to Eden Casino for its relaxed and friendly poker and blackjack game. But in about a year after I left, the casino closed. Chips remained as a memory.

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I was at Oracul casino in the Russian gambling zone “Azov-City” twice in my life. For the first time – in 2010, when the casino had just opened. The second time – before shutdown – in December 2018.

Oracul casino was the first legal casino in Russia after Vladimir Putin closed all casinos in 2009 and determined four (later five) special gambling zones for the gambling business. The Azov-City zone was located between the Rostov region and the Krasnodar Territory among the endless fields of Russia. It was there on the desert land that the Oracul casino was opened.

Frankly, when I first visited Oracul, I did not believe that a casino could be profitable, being so far from cities. It was a lone hangar, literally in the center of the field.  But I was wrong. Already before the closing (the guys in the Kremlin once again outplayed everything and decided to close this gambling zone) I saw how popular the Oracul casino became. Of course, this was no longer a lonely hangar – hotels were built there, additional halls and a couple of other casinos were nearby. In fact, this could be called the formation of Russian Las Vegas. If not for the knowledge that soon all this should have closed…

Oracul casino has an area of ​​12,000 square meters. The plans, which were never destined to come true, were the opening of a sports ground, retail space and various related entertainment. On a vast territory was much to expand. But even in 2018, the casino inside was not inferior to similar large projects in Europe. Hundreds of slot machines, dozens of tables for playing cards and roulette, entertainment programs, poker tournaments, raffles of valuable prizes… And, of course, there were chips of my favorite company Matsui. I typed them myself for a collection of different denominations.  Also, the casino management gave me an Oracul card made of solid gold. These cards were issued to the most coveted casino VIP-players:

Ultimately, I think that the Oracul casino in the Azov-City gambling zone in Russia was one of the most ambitious and successful modern time projects in the gambling industry. Until it came across another arbitrariness of the authorities . Here are the chips used there:

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I visited the city Évian-les-Bains in France in the spring of 2012. This resort, located on the shores of Lake Geneva in the foothills of the Alps has become famous throughout the world for its drinking water under the brand name “Evian”. It is here that the springs flow and the water is bottled then distributed throughout the planet known as the best drink for humans. From Russia to Australia, Evian was superior and one of the most expensive drinks. And residents and guests of Évian-les-Bains could enjoy this life-giving moisture in any quantity for free – it flowed freely from a spring right through the center of the city.

I stayed at Évian-les-Bains for about a week. The windows of my hotel room were located in the city center overlooking the lake. Swiss Losanna was visible in the other side. As well, the old building of the Royal Casino was located on the waterfront about a 200 meter walk away. During the day I explored the city and the surrounding area and spent evenings playing cards and roulette in the casino.

While I was playing at the Royal casino the management decided to give me a gift. Aware of my hobby they presented antique badges for my collection.  These silver plates were used in casinos about a hundred years ago:

Over time casinos in the city of Évian-les-Bains had different names.  Initially, like most other casinos in France it was municipal, and had the name “Casino Municipal De Evian les Bains”.  In simple language, все it had often been called and is still called – “Casino Evian”. In the early twentieth century, the casino became part of a single complex Evian Royal Resort with the first French five-star hotel Royal. The casino had also become known as “Casino Royal Evian” or simply “Casino Royal”. In 2012, Royal Casino used chips from Bourgogne et Grasset.  These were jetons, classic in Western Europe, made of “mother-of-pearl” homogeneous material.  The brightness and contrast of the colors of the chips immediately fascinated me. Royal Casino chips have become one of my favorites. I especially liked the chips worth 1000 euros, but I still do not dare to leave them in my collection.

Here are the chips used in the 21st century:

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I traveled a lot in France. This romantic country attracted me with its interesting history, beautiful nature, delicious food and a casino. In fact, there was a casino in every small resort town of France. Therefore, I traveled all over France far and wide.

The longest time I stayed was in the small town of Le Grande Motte, located on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. This is a very green city with original architecture and layout (is a national treasure of France). The casino, part of the large Partouche gambling network, was located near the promenade.

Casino Grande Motte was open only at night. Every day I was the first client to enter it’s door and the last player to leave the casino early in the morning. I met all the casino staff, I knew all the abid player by their names. I became friends with one local player named Olivier and we spent time with him at the tables of the Grande Motte casino. He sincerely did not understand how is it possible to avoid drinking French wine (I do not drink alcohol in principle), and I also sincerely didn’t understand how he can play blackjack so terribly.

One of the most memorable stories is connected with this: Once we played together with Olivier in blackjack and at the end of the game I made several large bets of 500 euros each. Olivier standardly bet 10 euros on the last box. The croupier put himself a 6 (this is good for the player) and I added some more money to the table, making split and double. Olivier, having 7 points on his cards, did not take the card. The croupier put himself 5 and then 10, scoring 21 points and beating me for about 4,000 euros. Lost and Olivier their 10 euros. His game strategy cost me dearly! He had to take a card for 7 points! But each player decides for himself, not in my rules to advise other guests what to do.

I spent at Grande Motte for about a month. I didn’t wanted to leave, because of the calm, good-natured atmosphere, clean air and measured life. Plus, I won pretty well at the casino. I even considered moving to Grande Motte. And, who knows, maybe someday I will do so…

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One of the most beautiful beaches in the world is the beach of the Kempinski Hotel on Mahe, Seychelles. When I arrived at Seychelles in 2014, I found casino at the Kempinski Hotel. It was called Paradiso. I met the director of the casino, who also turned out to be a Texas Holdem Poker amateur (I saw him at the poker table in another casino). He kindly invited me to visit and allowed me to take some photographs. The director conducted a detailed tour of a small, as he said “homey casino. It was evident that he loves his small business, but he did/t have professionalism in managing Paradiso.

I asked the director why he called the casino that way – in the Italian manner of “Paradiso”. He replied that he was a big fan of the film Nuovo Cinema Paradiso. And the name “Paradise” is already too worn out. “So many of these all kinds of “paradises”. But we kept the theme of a paradise in the title, but with our own twist,” the director said.

Paradiso had 5 roulette tables and card games. And also one Texas Holdem Poker table. Various paintings that hang on the walls, The cloth is bright red, o and installations that the casino director brought himself from different countries.

Paradiso Casino is a budget gambling establishment designed for guests of a hotel located in the depths of the island, far from the main tourist routes. Most of the time the casino was empty. Probably, Arab sheikhs, vacationers on the Seychelles Islands could make the annual revenue of such a casino if they went there at least once.

Chips at Paradiso Casino were used with makeshift stickers on other chips. What also speaks of extreme budgeting of the casino. I peeled a sticker from one of the chips and found the name “Palm Beach Casino” there. This gambling establishment previously existed at Seychelles.

In Paradiso, we played Texas Holdem with a company of regular fans of this game who gather in a particular casino in the Seychelles 3-4 times a week. In addition to the game, I met with the employees of the casino and talked with them. As I understand it, in general, the croupiers are satisfied with their work, although they don_t receive enough tip due to a lack of customers. I had a short photo shoot with friendly casino croupiers.

As far as I know, about a year after my departure, Paradiso Casino was closed.

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Resorts of the Republic of Tunisia are designed for tourists from France, Italy, Spain and other European countries. Russians also often relax in many hotels located on the Mediterranean sea. I first visited Tunisia in 2009 and since then I have been to this beautiful country several times. In Tunisia, I lounged on sandy beaches and bathed in the clear sea, rode a camel in Sahara, bargained at the markets and shops, tasted amazing figs and dates, took a steam bath in the hammam. Well, of course, I played in a casino.

One of the most popular resort towns in Tunisia was Hammamet. More precisely, its southern part is Yasmine Hammamet. There was the casino in a specially built for the pleasure of tourists shopping and entertainment Medina complex, of the same name with it.

The casino was open daily from 20:00pm to 6:00am. I spent several evenings there playing Texas Holdem Poker with other tourists, as well as Oasis Poker against the casino. I also pulled the handle of a one-armed bandit on antediluvian casino slot machines and took several tokens for the collection. It is noteworthy that tokens were also accepted at casino tables at casino La Medina Hammamet, so they could be placed on roulette by numbers, on poker for bonuses, and on Texas Holdem as blinds. In addition to tokens, Casino La Medina Hammamet used chips similar in execution to roulette as one-dollar chips.

I think that the use of roulette chips is due to the fact that the usual one-dollar chips (which I know for sure were there before) at Casino Medina Hammamet simply ended. They settled in the pockets of tourists.

I have two bright memories connected with Casino La Medina Hammamet. First, my friend caught the highest combination of Flash Royal at Oasis Poker with me (payment of about $ 10,000), after which he was given a blacklist in this casino! I was Shocked! Later I wrote a whole story about it and, I hope, someday I will release a book in which this case will be described. The second memory is that it was in this casino that I once played at Texas Holdem Poker all night and have never made active bets. Such bad cards came to me constantly that I threw them out and again and again for 10 hours. In the morning, my opponents told me: “Vitaly, stop waiting for two aces! Play TJo!” How could I prove to them that I have never even received a jack with a ten? As a result, it was the longest session in my life, when I just sat and watched others play!

Casino La Medina Hammamet closed in 2013. Since then, I have nothing to do in Tunisia.

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I first met India in Goa in 2011. This tiny coastal state was the most popular resort for Indians and foreigners visiting India. It was also the only place where casinos were legal. More precisely semi-legal. Casinos could be located in the “offshore zone” on the Mandovi River, flowing next to the capital of Goa, the city of Panaji. In total, at the time of my arrival at Goa, four casino ships were operating – Casino Pride, Casino Royal, Casino Caravella (also called Casino GOA) and Carnival Casino.

Carnival Casino, like the other three gambling establishments, was on the ship. To get to the casino, it was necessary to register at a specially equipped reception on the pier. It was also required to pay a state tax for admission to the casino. After passing the control, the most interesting attraction began – it was necessary to ride a fast boat on the river. It was an adventure in itself .

The path to the casino on a boat took about 5 minutes. And I tried to inhale fresh air a and enjoy the views all this time!

I played at Carnival Casino in blackjack etc. The casino was not very popular and therefore I could enjoy the game alone. I remember that once I lost a lot in blackjack. I changed and changed large amounts of money, but I couldn’t win. And at one point between dealing cards, the manager came up to me and with a respectful smile put the chips on the table. “Just for luck,” he said, and pushed the chips to me. It seems there was something around 5,000 rupees. It was unexpected for me. I have not come across this form of discount before. Of course, I thanked the good manager. Despite the loss, I was filled with love for Carnival Casino.

I really liked the chips at Carnival Casino – great design and fun to play. Since the minimum chip was only 25 rupees, I scored a lot of copies for exchange. But i did’t stint on a chip of 1000 rupees (about 25 USD at that time). 

As a result, every time I relaxed in Goa, I played at Carnival Casino. Until its closure.

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  My experience of traveling on cruise ships began with Tallink Silja, which has its own fleet on the Baltic Sea.  I needed to get from Sweden to Estonia.  The way on the ship, as it seemed to me, was the shortest, easiest and most interesting.  And on the cruise liner Romantica, cruising between the two capitals, there was a casino.  And due to playing blackjack, I was able not only to justify my journey, but also to take a few chips for the collection.

  It was a short but memorable cruise.  Romantica departed from Stockholm in the evening, and arrived to Tallinn the next morning.  Only 16 hours on the way  And during this time, passengers were going to get drunk and party hard.  The liner was a sort of tavern with cheap drinks in neutral waters.  Due to my lack of cravings for alcohol, I, after placing in my small but comfortable cabin, went to search for a casino.

  Starlight Palace Casino disappointed me.  I expected to see a bustling Las Vegas-style park casino.  It turned out that all this was just two ragged tables with cheap games and terrible rules.  Roulette number paid 30 to 1!  I did not know that such a thing could exist in principle!  Also on card games, house edge was about 10%.  But I needed chips for the collection, and, as it turned out, on r a non-drinker on Romantica had nothing to do but sit in the casino.

  I think I played at Starlight Palace Casino for about two hours.  All this time I was very unhappy.  But, praise to Goddess Fortune, I won.  The stakes were very small – something around 5 euros., and I managed to win about 200 euros and take some more chips for the collection.  These were not exactly those chips that you want to have in the collection.  I think that they were previously used in another casino.  As often happens – after the closure of a large project, its equipment (and the chips are part of the equipment) migrates to such losers as Starlight Palace Casino.  But I have nothing to complain about, because I won that night and got an interesting experience.  And also took an extra step towards getting rid of unnecessary expectations 😉

  Here is the example of chips used at Starlight Palace Casino:

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I still failed to find out the reason to call this casino as Boomerang. The casino staff couldn’t answer my question. They said something about wordplay, associated with «Boom» and «Boomer» (BMW car name is called so in Russian slang, which is deemed prestigious and youthful in Russia), as well as about a new gambling institution concept, intended to involve younger audience.

Boomerang Casino was opened in December 2018 at «Rosa Khutor» resort in «Krasnaya Polyana» gaming zone. Casino Sochi and Bonus slot hall, which belonged to the same company as Boomerang, have already been operating in the current gambling zone, located near of Sochi. Therefore, Boomerang didn’t provide additional competition to the business. It just had to try to capture another players segment. It was believed lots of «golden youth», namely wealthy people less than 35 years old, used to rest at «Rosa Khutor resort», where the Boomerang casino is located. However, the classic casino may not be suitable for them since they are striving to try something new and more interesting. Therefore, Boomerang tried to combine some cosmic themes with the blackjack and roulette game.

Therefore, I didn’t like Boomerang Casino. This casino is quite good and new, but can’t be compared to the classic ones I used to visit.

Firstly, the casino provides quite complicated logistics – several entrances and transitions from one hall to another, secondly, a purely secular wardrobe with the «Administration is not responsible for lost things» inscription is superfluous, thirdly the casino chips look so much cheap…

Boomerang casino chips were too low-quality while being made by «Smile» Russian company, which confirmed the entire complex cheapness as a whole. The best casinos order Matsui or Bourgogne Et Grasset chips, or at least Abbiati chips (for example, Casino Sochi).

Boomerang Casino chips were not designer alt all while being made of the cheapest material. I am sure, it will quite simple to fake such chips for some Russian craftsmen. The experts, who saw these Boomerang casino chips, are fully agree with me.

It worth mentioning that Boomerang casino is approved by the gaming community, despite my disappointment. The casino had quite active game when I visited it. One player told me that he didn’t feel such pathos in Boomerang as in Casino Sochi. Boomerang was quite ordinary casino, which involved lots of visitors.

So, I hope that Boomerang casino will be able to earn money to get better chips in future 😉

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