Q: What is your view on someone physically in Las Vegas placing bets on behalf of (other people)? Is this legal? -- Bob C.

A: First, messenger betting is illegal in Nevada. Still, I posed your question to an inside source in Las Vegas betting operations.

He said: "Race and sports books in Las Vegas reserve the right to refuse any and all bets. They make it very difficult for messengers to place bets. If they suspect the action is messenger betting, they may confront the individual and refuse the bets entirely."

Q: I was curious if you've heard any whispers about Harrah's bringing a poker room to its Joliet Casino. With Harrah's owning the World Series of Poker, it would be logical for them to have a poker outlet in Illinois. -- Joshua M.

A: The Joliet property faces two major hurdles: space limitation and the Illinois restriction on the number of gaming positions. I'm thinking Harrah's is waiting for the new barge to open at Horseshoe Hammond in summer 2008. The Las Vegas-style 36-table poker room on the drawing board will give Harrah's all the marketing and promotional might they've been looking to generate in the underserved Midwest market.

Q: Can you please write a column on proper tipping when receiving casino dinner comps. What's your take on the subject? -- Tony V.

A: Good service should be appreciated and rewarded appropriately regardless of whether you pay for your meal. Complimentary meals are commonplace in casino dining venues. But when your server requests that you sign the tab, it's proper etiquette to note the amount and leave a 15- to 20-percent gratuity as if you had paid for the meal.

Casino news

Horseshoe Casino Hammond is going "whole hog" to celebrate the Year of the Pig 4705 as part of the property's Chinese Lunar New Year festivities later this month.

From 6:30 to 10 p.m. Feb. 18, Horseshoe will host a Vietnamese Dinner Show featuring an Asian family-style 10-course meal, and Vietnamese singers from the Chicago area, as well as Canada and Washington, D.C., will perform.

From 8 to 11 p.m. Feb. 19 and 20, Horseshoe will feature live entertainment performed by stars direct from Hong Kong and Mainland China for two shows each day. For guests who would like to dine before or after the performances, the buffet will feature such specialty items as roast pig.

The opinions expressed solely are those of the writer. He can be reached at jbrokopp@comcast.net.