Blue Lake Casino sources said Friday that the group of fired blackjack dealers and a pit boss were let go because "certain incidents" committed against the casino were dangerous for business.

On Thursday, the Times-Standard reported that the employees fired en masse felt they were let go in retaliation for defecting to a new casino.

The former employees also said Blue Lake Casino asked for at least one-month advance notification of their departure to ensure ample time for finding replacements; and that the employees were promised in turn that they would be able continue employment through their end date. While she would not comment on what the incidents were, spokesperson Jana Ganion said only a couple of the nine fired employees were responsible for the incidents.

Las Vegas' Tallest Luxury Residential Building Signs 1,500 Accredited West Coast Real Estate Agents to Sell Units

At $1 billion plus in expected gross sales, Ivana Las Vegas will be the most expensive residential building ever sold.

Ivana Las Vegas, soon to be Las Vegas' tallest luxury residential building, last week signed more than 1,500 accredited west coast real estate agents to sell units in the building.

At 80 levels, 923 feet, 945 units and completion set for the end of 2008, Ivana Las Vegas is set to dominate the Las Vegas skyline. With an expected $1 billion plus in gross sales, Ivana Las Vegas will be the most expensive single residential building ever sold.

Looks as if Ocean's 13 is on the way.

Brad Pitt and George Clooney are all set to build a new hotel and casino in Las Vegas, in a deal with Cindy Crawford's husband, nightclub boss Rande Gerber.

In return for a slice of the profits, Pitt and Clooney will let Gerber use them as the hotel's faces.

If you were looking for two celebs to invest in your new business venture, you could do a lot worse than signing up hunks Brad Pitt and George Clooney.

"Brad will design the hotel and be the face of it with George. After Ocean's Eleven this makes perfect sense, and the three of them are very good friends," an insider was quoted as saying. A formal announcement on the deal is due in November with work getting underway in January 2006.

A survey by the Consumer Federation of America found that 27 percent of respondents said their best chance of accumulating a half million dollars or more during their lifetimes was at blackjack, lottery or sweepstakes win.

Fast-forward to 2005, when market expectations are far humbler. The worldwide gaming industry has soared: Two-thirds of adult Americans in a Gallup poll this year said they had gambled in the previous 12 months, and U.S. lottery players spent $49 billion in 2004.

Despite the astronomical odds of winning, about half of all adult Americans play state lotteries, according to another Gallup poll released last year.

Abercrombie & Kent, a luxury tour operator, is reviving its $39,100 per person, 21-day private jet tour of South American islands and jungles after canceling it after the September 2001 terrorist attacks.

The tour, which will circumnavigate South America, is one sign of the growing interest in luxury vacations that has enabled Marriott International Inc. and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. to raise prices.

Demand for everything from $17,000 luxury-liner voyages to $60,000 African safaris is soaring along with incomes for the wealthy. " The baby boomers are raking it in,'' said Bill Marriott, chief executive of Marriott International. " People have a lot of money. They're selling their houses. They've got money to spend.''

The Casino Dealer College with Casino Schools in San Francisco and Sacramento California, and recently featured on Good Morning American, announced the opening of their newest Casino School in Los Angeles, California.

The Los Angeles Campus will feature courses in Poker, Blackjack & Pai Gow, with more options coming soon.

"There is such a large need right now for highly trained casino dealers coming from the casinos that we felt it necessary to open another location, especially given just how many Casinos and Poker Rooms there are in the LA vacinity" stated Jeff Goodman, Director for the Casino Dealer College in Los Angeles.

Lane McBride earned valedictorian honors in high school. He graduated from the University of Utah this spring summa cum laude in psychology. And he makes a living playing cards on the Internet.

The 22-year-old considers poker his job. He says he made $2,000 in April playing about 20 hours a week. Now he plays 40 hours a week. He plans on going to graduate school — and paying for it with his poker winnings.

Except for cocktail waitresses keeping your drink fresh, everything in a Nevada casino and more is available on the Internet. Slots. Dice. Cards. Sports. It's all there. And it has never been easier or more acceptable to gamble online.

You can take on the house in blackjack. You can find a virtual seat at a Texas Hold 'Em table alongside Hollywood celebrities.

The Jaguar XJ has won the prestigious Best Luxury Car Award in the 2005 Fleet World Awards for a second consecutive year.

The awards are judged by a panel of experts representing the leasing industry, fleet managers, motoring journalists, residual value guides and Fleet World’s own editorial team. The judges took a wide range of factors into account, including residual values, maintenance costs, reliability, driver appeal and manufacturer back-up.

Accepting the award, Jaguar's Corporate Operations Manager James Drake-Lee commented: "We are delighted to receive this important recognition for a second consecutive year. The XJ appeals to the business driver's heart and head.

The hottest tourney table is ready to deal the 2nd annual WORLD SERIES of BLACKJACK.

Luck takes a hit as Pros play the house and each other inside the Golden Nugget Hotel/Casino in lavish Las Vegas. This invitation only event welcomes returning winner MIT Mike, Stanford Wong a.k.a. The Godfather of Blackjack, “Hollywood” Dave Stann (with red carpet hair?) plus many more. Alle are seated to stake their claim to part of $500k and be crowned Blackjack champ. Join host Matt Vasgersian with co-host Max Rubin as the “Two pair” call cards wirh experts tips, player bets and winning-hand highlight.

Basking in the jurors' decision to acquit his client of all counts, Michael Jackson's lawyer said Tuesday the singer will no longer share his bed with young boys.

He's not going to do that anymore," attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. told NBC's "Today." "He's not going to make himself vulnerable to this anymore."

Jackson was found not guilty Monday of child molestation, conspiracy and other counts. Jurors said the accusations of a young boy and his family were not credible — a total legal victory that triggered jubilation among the pop star's fans and embarrassment for the district attorney's office.

But Mesereau said the singer was still recovering from the ordeal.