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Exploring Federal Palace Casino Of Fun, Fortune

By Chuks Nwanne
22 August 2015   |   5:33 am
For those who know, fun is a serious business, though sometimes, it’s easy to overlook when we are busy with work and other demands of everyday life. But really, everyone needs some time just to unwind. Whether this is by having a peaceful sleep or doing something you love to do, you need a break…
GM Federal Palace Hotel & Casino David Kliegl (left)Nollywood star Ramsey Noah, Chocolate City rapper Ice Prince (behind) with other guests during the Casino Celebrity Learner’s Night.

GM Federal Palace Hotel & Casino David Kliegl (left)Nollywood star Ramsey Noah, Chocolate City rapper Ice Prince (behind) with other guests during the Casino Celebrity Learner’s Night.

For those who know, fun is a serious business, though sometimes, it’s easy to overlook when we are busy with work and other demands of everyday life. But really, everyone needs some time just to unwind. Whether this is by having a peaceful sleep or doing something you love to do, you need a break and it doesn’t need to cost a lot either. Sometimes, it’s just about the experience.

Finding ways to have fun and do new things with friends is a great way to build your happiness. There’s nothing wrong with staying indoors to chitchat with pals, but at times, you need to switch off that TV and find something new and fun to do together. You may not be having as much fun as you want probably because you feel like you’re doing the same old thing day after day. Therefore, discovering a new hobby is a great way to spice up your routine.

Have you ever thought of going to the casino? All right, just forget that old story of it being ‘den of gamblers,’ casino is one of the fastest growing forms of entertainment and they are fast opening up all over the world. For sure, the lucky ones hit the jackpot everyday, but even if you choose not to play, being at the games for the weekend is fun.

If you are in Lagos, just find time to visit the Federal Palace Hotel & Casino on Victoria Island; it’s a different world of amazing experiences. Beyond the luxury accommodations and fantastic Pool Club, one thing that stands the hotel apart from others is the Casino. Managed by Sun International Limited, which invests heavily in the hotel, resort and casino industry, this fun and fortune spot has become a must visit for most expatriates and Lagos big boys; the ladies are not left out though.

As quiet as the lobby area might look, the casino bubbles daily, especially weekend. However, you need the membership card to gain access into the expansive lounge. For the ‘bigger boys,’ there’s a private section. The Most Valued Guests (MVG) cardholders can load money onto their MVG smart card at the cash desk, and subsequently use the card to buy chips at the game tables or play at the slot machines. Also, they enjoy regular casino promotions and loyalty programme, which rewards members with points for playing at any Sun International casino.

A typical example of such reward opportunities is the recently held The Decider, a car jackpot, in which two luxury cars courtesy Coscharis Motors were on offer. That night, the excitement was accentuated by the constant jingle of the slot machines, the anticipation of all the casinos Most Valued Guests of winning a Jaguar XF or Range Rover Evogue and the count down to the final play off in the Decider Jackpot.

The well-choreographed final spin, accompanied by high anxiety, had all the players on the edge of their seats as they willed the roulette ball to drop on their chosen number. After what appeared to last a life time, the ball dropped and Mr. Kareem Balogun let off an ecstatic scream as he began to comprehend that he was the winner. However, he had to choose either Jaguar XF or Range Rover Evoque as his prize under 10 seconds.

As the clock ran down, Mr. Balogun torn between the two luxury vehicles on offer, opted for the Range Rover Evoque. But all was not done, in true casino spirit, Balogun was given a ‘double or nothing offer,’ which allows the winner to spin again and win both cars if his number comes up the second time. But if it fails, he walks away with nothing. Well, on this day, Balogun resolved not to stretch his luck too far; he settled for the Range Rover Evogue. And in what appeared to be an already exciting night for Mr. Kareem Balogun, Cosharis Motors increased his excitement by offering him the amazing Jaguar F-Type as a compliment, to test drive for 24 hours. That’s the magic of casino.

One of those exciting nights was the Casino Celebrity Learner’s Night, which hosted notable celebrities and top showbiz practitioners, including Ramsey Noah, Ice Prince and others. Staged in conjunction with Nigeria Entertainment Awards (NEA), the night opened with a special red carpet session where the celebrities showcased different shades of fashion, before they were ushered into the casino for a trial session that lasted all night.

The casino has once hosted the Africa Queen crooner 2face Idibia to a special birthday bash. On this night, the Benue State native had his first peculiar birthday gift from the hotel management, as he was taken through his first gaming lessons at the Roulette Table, Slots Machines and Poker/Black Jack Tables. You need to see the hip-hop singer display some childlike excitement when he won at the Roulette Table. The highoint of the night was the closed-door party for 2Face at the Patio of the Federal Palace Casino, with his songs playing all through the night.

The Federal palace Casino offers a wide variety of table games; some are classic games that have been around for years, while others are newer games that have been recently added to the casino floor. However, the world of casinos can be confusing, but new players can get comfortable before they ever head inside a casino. So, if you need to learn your way or pick up a few gaming tips, then Learners’ Night is perfect for you. This series will school you in gaming etiquette, skills, tips and how to enjoy gambling responsibly.

When it comes to table games, the Blackjack is the most popular. Aside that it’s fast and exciting, when played properly, it has a house edge of less than one percent, which is the lowest house advantage of any table game. But a player can even gain an edge over the casino with card counting. As for Craps, as confusing at it might look, learning how to play it is not as hard as it looks; it’s actually a simple game to learn how to play.

Somehow, Poker has become one of the most popular games in the casino. Particularly because it’s a game of skill and the only game where the players are competing against each other and not the house. But if you want to bet Horse Racing, then you need to be at the Racebooks.

Over all, Slot machine is the most popular form of casino gambling as it accounts for the majority of the casinos’ profits. Slots are easy to play but there are still some things you should know before you play. Because any form of gambling is governed by chance, there are no guarantees in any quest for success inside the casinos. However, there are several things you can do to improve your own chance of winning at slot machines. f

No matter your gaming budget, there’s a slot machine for you at the Federal Palace Casino. With more than 130 state-of-the-art slot machines to choose from, you can game the night away with denominations ranging from just US$0.01 to US$2. But beyond just gabling and assorted drinks, there’s the fun side of a casino house.

According to the Marketing Manager of the hotel, Uche Ogbu, “The casino experience is a conscious effort by Federal Palace Hotel to give its guests, variety beyond the comfort in the rooms, top quality recreational facilities in the Pool Club, special local/continental cuisines and several relaxation spots after a hard day’s work.”

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