I expect BlackjackTournaments.com to have a strong contingent present at the Bally's event. I'll definitely be there.
The format at Bally's is a little different than most events, with two rounds of non-elimination play to decide who gets into the semifinals. That means you're competing against all players, to see who accumulates the most chips in the first two rounds. The top 35 combined scores from rounds one and two get a seat in the semifinals.
Once you get to the semifinal rounds, you'll be playing only against the other players at your table.
For strategy articles, check the links from the home page for some at my site. There are also plenty of posts in the message boards here, from the best players in the country.
Oh, yeah, welcome to the community!