Although Rupert Boneham has been on “Survivor,” a reality television show, he has never managed to win on all three occasions. However, in what some have coined as a consolation prize, the Nevada Gaming Commission has approved of his casino game called “Rupert’s Island Draw.”
Unanimous Approval
The Nevada Gaming Commission was highly impressed by Boneham’s enthusiasm, which also helped him become popular on “Survivor.” In the television show contestants are able to vote others off the remote island on which the game is played.
Boneham, dressed in a brightly colored tie-dye t-shirt that he’s renowned for wearing, along with Richard Legenza, his consultant, showed the commissioners how the game worked.
However, the game wasn’t the only point the commissioners wanted to discuss, as reflected by Commissioner Randolph Townsend’s comment, “I see on your resume that you were born in January of 1964. I just wanted to tell you that that was around the time I first wore a shirt like the one you’re wearing.”
The Game Idea
Boneham has never managed to win “Survivor,” although he has now competed for a total of three times. He managed to spend 100 days in the wilderness. In 2003 for “Survivor: Pearl Island,” he finished eighth; in 2004 on “Survivor All-Stars,” he came fourth; and for “Heroes vs. Villains,” which aired last year he managed to finish in the sixth place. For the season that went out in 2004, he won $1 million, when he was voted by fans nationwide as the favorite player of the series. Boneham explained that it was while on the island as the program was being recorded that he came up with the idea for his casino game.
Game Leases
The game is currently being played at one Golden Nugget table only. Here, the game is played with a minimum wager of either $5 or $10 and a maximum of $300. However, Boneham now wants to try and negotiate more leases with different casinos, now that he has managed to obtain a license.
He has stated that if the game is successful, he wants to extract 20 percent of his gross profits and set up a satellite office in Las Vegas for Rupert’s Kids. Rupert’s Kids is a charity that was founded by Boneham in Indianapolis, his home city, to assist young children at high risk with vocational qualifications. After his presentation to the commissioners, Boneham explained that he was going to the bank to open an account for Rupert’s Kids.
The Rules
“Rupert’s Island Draw” has been described as a form of reverse blackjack that also combines elements from baccarat and poker. It is played using 16 24 card decks of aces up to sixes. The aim is to have cards in your hand that have a value less than the cards held by the dealer. Boneham wants to develop the game further; however, with the addition of side bets.