Borgata Casino Free Throw Contest

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Borgata Casino Free Throw Contest Rules

Registration is from 9AM - 2PM

The first Borgata $10,000 Guaranteed Basketball Free Throw Tournament is in the books and it can be summed up in one simple word—swish. Well, actually, a lot of the 1,022 contestants that turned out for the inaugural event on March 21 went the bank-shot route, but the winner, Al Callejas, 37 of Archbald, PA definitely went for the swish as he won first prize and $10,220. Mar 22, 2015 Borgata’s free throw contest is the first of what promises to be many skill-based events that let gamblers take greater control over the outcomes of their bets, rather than relying on a roll of.

Round 1: 10AM - 2:30PM

Participants will take 15 free throws
Participants can re-buy for a total of two entries into Round 1
From the time the clock begins, each participant will have 60 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible, up to 15
All 15 basketballs will be available to the participant prior to the start of the clock
The participant may not touch the basketballs until the start of the clock
Free throws made with a standard basketball are worth 1 point (there are 13 standard basketballs)
Free throws made with a special color bonus basketball are worth 2 points (there are 2 bonus basketballs)
Participants can randomly select the order in which they shoot all 15 basketballs – including the 13 standard basketballs worth 1 point and 2 special color bonus basketballs worth 2 points.
The maximum score for Round 1 is 17 points
The top 64 scores will advance to the Semifinal Round
In the event of a tie for 64th place, those who are tied will each take 15 free throws with 13 standard basketballs worth 1 point and 2 special color bonus basketballs worth 2 points for a maximum of 17 points. From the time the clock begins, each participant will have 60 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible. The shooter with the highest score out of 17 will advance to the Semifinal Round. Any participants who do not report within 5 minutes for the tiebreaker will be disqualified.
If there is another (2nd) tie, those who are tied will each take 15 free throws with 13 standard basketballs worth 1 point and 2 special color bonus basketballs worth 2 points for a maximum of 17 points. From the time the clock begins, each participant will have 45 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible. The shooter with the highest score out of 17 will advance to the Semifinal Round. Any participants who do not report within 5 minutes for the tiebreaker will be disqualified.
If there is another (3rd) tie, those who are tied will each take 15 free throws with 13 standard basketballs worth 1 point and 2 special color bonus basketballs worth 2 points for a maximum of 17 points. From the time the clock begins, each participant will have 30 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible. The shooter with the highest score out of 17 will advance to the Semifinal Round. Any participants who do not report within 5 minutes for the tiebreaker will be disqualified.
If a participant places 1 – 64th and does not report for the semifinal within 5 minutes of that round starting, they will be disqualified. In that event, the semifinal round may consist of less than 64 participants.

Semifinal Round: 3PM

Participants will take 15 free throws
From the time the clock begins, each participant will have 60 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible, up to 15
All 15 basketballs will be available to the shooter prior to the start of the clock
The participant may not touch the basketballs until the start of the clock
Each free throw made with a standard basketball is worth 1 point (there are 13 standard basketballs)
Each free throw made with a special color bonus basketball is worth 2 points (there are 2 bonus basketballs)
Participants can randomly select the order in which they shoot all 15 basketballs – including the 13 standard basketballs worth 1 point and 2 special color bonus basketballs worth 2 points.
The maximum score for the Semifinal Round is 17 points
The top 16 scores from the Semifinal Round will advance to the Final Round
In the event of a tie for 16th place, those who are tied will each take 15 free throws with 13 standard basketballs worth 1 point and 2 special color bonus basketballs worth 2 points for a maximum of 17 points. From the time the clock begins, each participant will have 60 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible. The shooter with the highest score out of 17 will advance to the Final Round. Any participants who do not report within 5 minutes for the tiebreaker will be disqualified.
If there is another (2nd) tie, those who are tied will each take 15 free throws with 13 standard basketballs worth 1 point and 2 special color bonus basketballs worth 2 points for a maximum of 17 points. From the time the clock begins, each participant will have 45 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible. The shooter with the highest score out of 17 will advance to the Final Round. Any participants who do not report within 5 minutes for the tiebreaker will be disqualified.
If there is another (3rd) tie, those who are tied will each take 15 free throws with 13 standard basketballs worth 1 point and 2 special color bonus basketballs worth 2 points for a maximum of 17 points. From the time the clock begins, each participant will have 30 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible. The shooter with the highest score out of 17 will advance to the Final Round. Any participants who do not report within 5 minutes for the tiebreaker will be disqualified.
If a participant places 1 – 16th and does not report for the final round within 5 minutes of that round starting, they will be disqualified. In the event that the final round may consist of less than 16 participants. The participant paired with the absentee player will receive a ‘by’ for that bracket level.

Final Round:

The top 16 participants from the Semifinal Round will be randomly paired via drawing with each other in a 4 level heads up bracket format
Random Pairing will consist of top 16 participants’ names being dropped in a fishbowl and randomly drawn two at a time to create pairings
Participants will take 15 free throws
From the time the clock begins, each participant will have 60 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible, up to 15
All 15 basketballs will be available to the shooter prior to the start of the clock
The participant may not touch the basketballs until the start of the clock
Each free throw made with a standard basketball is worth 1 point (there are 13 standard basketballs)
Each free throw made with a special color bonus basketball is worth 2 points (there are 2 bonus basketballs)
Participants can randomly select the order in which they shoot all 15 basketballs – including the 13 standard basketballs worth 1 point and 2 special color bonus basketballs worth 2 points.
The maximum score for the Final Round is 17 points
The winner of the each pairing will advance to the next level of the bracket. The loser in each pairing is eliminated from the tournament
In the event of a tie, those who are tied will each take 15 free throws with 13 standard basketballs worth 1 point and 2 special color bonus basketballs worth 2 points for a maximum of 17 points. From the time the clock begins, each participant will have 60 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible. The shooter with the highest score out of 17 will advance to the next level of the bracket.
If there is another (2nd) tie, those who are tied will each take 15 free throws with 13 standard basketballs worth 1 point and 2 special color bonus basketballs worth 2 points for a maximum of 17 points. From the time the clock begins, each participant will have 45 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible. The shooter with the highest score out of 17 will advance to the next level of the bracket.
If there is another (3rd) tie, those who are tied will each take 15 free throws with 13 standard basketballs worth 1 point and 2 special color bonus basketballs worth 2 points for a maximum of 17 points. From the time the clock begins, each participant will have 30 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible. The shooter with the highest score out of 17 will advance to the next level of the bracket. Bracket levels will commence as soon as both shooters from the previous level have successfully advanced
Final Round Brackets:

PAYOUT:

The top 4 participants from the Final Round will be awarded a collective prize pool of $10,000 guaranteed. Prize pool may exceed $10,000 based on the number of participants.

1st Place	50%	$5,000+
2nd Place	30%	$3,000+
3rd Place	10%	$1,000+
4th Place	10%	$1,000+

Places 5 through 16 will be awarded $100 Bonus Slot Dollars or $100 Match Play, whichever the participant prefers. This $1,200 in awarded prizes will not be deducted from the prize pool awarded to places 1 - 4.

RULES AND REGULATIONS:

This is a skill based tournament.
Tournament consists of $20 buy-in.
Cash only accepted for buy-in.
One re-buy for round one is permitted.
Entrants must use Borgata equipment. All equipment will be inspected by Borgata prior to the start of the tournament.
All basketballs will be 29.5” official Optima Rubber basketballs
Prizes awarded and odds will vary based on the actual number of buy-ins.
If a participant choses to re-buy during initial registration, the participant will shoot for both entries at the same basket in the same session. If the participant wishes to use one entry for one basket, and the second entry for another, they will be required to wait in the line queue for random basket assignment.
In the case of re-entry, participant’s highest score will be used to determine advancement to Semi-Final Round.
Baskets will be assigned to participants in the order as they become available.
Must be 21 or older.
Non-transferable.
Management reserves the right to cancel or change this tournament at any time.
Participant buying in must be the player shooting free throws.
Tournament availability may be limited.
Limited to the first 750 participants.
Reservations required.
Event registration is from 9AM – 2PM on 3/21/15.
Free throws will be shot from a regulation 15’ distance from a 10’ high rim using 29.5” basketballs.
Participants will be permitted 2 warm-up free throws if desired.
Participants will have 60 seconds from the time the clock begins to complete as many shots as possible (up to 15).
If a free throw has left the shooter’s hand when the clock stops the free throw will be counted (if made).
If a free throw has not left the shooters hand when the clock stops the free throw will not qualify.
For tiebreakers, from the time the clock begins, participants will have 60 seconds to complete as many free throws as possible (up to 15).
Free throw violations include stepping over the line prior to the ball reaching the rim.
A free throw made in violation will be counted as a miss and will not be awarded any points.
Participants can randomly select the order in which they shoot the 2 special color bonus basketballs
In case of clock malfunction, a Borgata score taker will ask the shooter to start over, and any previously made points will not be counted.
In case of interference by another shooter or another ball, a Borgata score taker will ask the shooter to re-take the free throw or free throws which were interfered with.
In case of a ball becoming lodged at the rim, the ball will be removed by Borgata staff prior to any further shots being taken. A Borgata score taker will ask the shooter to take remaining free throw or throws.
Final scores will be verified by official Borgata score takers. Decisions will be considered final.
Winners have 30 days to claim cash, Slot Dollars, and / or Match Play.
Slot Dollars and Match Play cannot be converted to cash.
Winners are responsible for all state and federal taxes.
Valid ID and My Borgata Rewards card required.
Borgata may disqualify any participant based on fraud, dishonesty, violation of promotional rules or other misconduct whether or not related to this promotion.
Any dispute or situation not covered by these rules shall be resolved by the Borgata management in a manner that is fair to all parties.
Borgata Team Members are not eligible for this promotion.
Borgata is not responsible for amateur or professional league eligibility as a result of participation.
Winners are responsible for all state and federal taxes.
Valid ID and My Borgata Rewards card required.
Match Play and Slot Dollars® cannot be redeemed for cash.

It was billed as the New Jersey casino industry’s first skill-based competition, and this weekend over 1,000 people from all over the country turned up at the Borgata with the requisite $20 entry fee to see how many foul shots they could sink in 60 seconds.

The winner was set to earn $5,000 of the $10,000 of guaranteed money, but with 1,022 competitors, the winner ended up pocketing over $10,000.

In the poker world we call doubling your a guarantee a massive success, and the Borgata should be thrilled with the turnout.

Teacher from Pennsylvania wins $10k

Even though there were plenty of them in the field, it wasn’t some recently graduated D-I college basketball player, or some former pro, or some playground legend, or even some shooting guru who works with NBA teams (there was at least one of those in the field, by the way) who took home the top prize and the trophy.

It was a 37-year old teacher, Al Callejas.

Callejas certainly wouldn’t have been one of the odds-on favorites at the outset, but he’s not a slouch either, and would probably be a ringer on your over 30 basketball team at the Y, considering Callejas is a former D-III player (University of Scranton) and the son of a basketball coach at Holy Cross High School in Dunmore, PA.

After navigating the tough and deep field, Callejas squared off against Wayne Nelson, the Cedar Creek High School boys’ basketball coach, in the final round.

As in previous rounds, each player took 15 shots with 13 being worth 1 point and two multi-colored “money” balls being worth 2 points. With one shot left for Callejas, the two were tied with 14 points, and Callejas buried it for the 16-14 win.

Like any good shooter, Callejas knew it was going in when it left his hand, as he was heard saying “got it” before the ball went through the rim.

Don’t feel too bad for Nelson, though. He pocketed $6,132 for his runner-up showing, more than the originally announced first-place prize of $5,000 thanks to the tremendous turnout.

What to do with the money

Callejas didn’t say what he would use the money for, although a little of it might find its way back into the Borgata cage, as he and his wife were also given a free suite at the Borgata after his sharpshooting display courtesy of the casino’s Senior Vice President of Operations Joe Lupo.

The added gift brought a coy smile to the face of Callejas, a man who doesn’t consider himself much of a gambler. But as Callejas noted, there are always exceptions.

“Maybe I will gamble now. I’m going to find a roulette wheel and bet 16,” he said.

Still, don’t expect very much of his winnings to be put at risk (maybe the $220 of the $10,220 he won) considering Callejas is a married first grade teacher in Pennsylvania who has a four-year old and one-year old at home.

Lupo and the Borgata were certainly happy with how things worked out, considering the event brought over 1,000 potential customers through the casino’s doors. So, it’s not surprising Lupo said the casino would “one hundred percent” be hosting more skill-based contests down the road.

Why did this casino promotion work so well?

The contest was pure genius in every way. From the $20 buy-in to the skill-based competition that was selected, it all worked beautifully.

Even the biggest rec league hack would probably try their hand in this contest for a mere $20, and the free throw, while incredibly skillful, is something anyone (man, woman, child, senior citizen) can do, evidenced by a 37-year old teacher and a high school boys’ basketball coach making the finals.

A free throw contest is the great equalizer, as neither height, age, or gender plays much of a role. And as one player noted, even the best shooters have to deal with the pressure.