Slot Blog

New Slots from WMS G+ DELUXE Review

2010-11-14T10:25:00.000-08:00

So 2.5 years ago when I abandoned this blog, my last post was about the WMS G+ Series, and today I bring you my reactions to their brand new G+ Deluxe series.
http://www.wms.com/Games/Pages/default.aspx

In a word --- meah. I mean really WMS, in nearly 3 years this is all the improvement you can muster?

I strolled into my usual haunt Red Rock Casino, and decided to play the new "I Love Lucy" "Win it Again" WMS slots, and in their place were these G+ Deluxe machines. I say "in their place" but really, they are the same cabinets controlled by "Server Based" gaming . . . meaning the casino can change the games and the payouts (yes, the PAYOUTS) anytime they want with a push of a button.

That said, the cabinets do not limit the bells and whistles of the game too much, as the top screen can and often does have all sorts of action, although it is NOT interactive touch screen action. So if you like games where you can't pick the wrong thing, then you shouldn't notice much lacking from your experience.

All that considered, I sat down and tried my luck. There were four of these new games, including Kronos (think "Zeus"), Zanzibar, Dragon's Riches, and something jungle themed. I played "Dragon's Riches." The first thing I noticed was the larger symbols, and the weird line configurations. You can bet between 1 and 30 lines (this is a penny machine), but those lines may not pay off in ways you are used to. There is a bonus round triggered by three dragon symbols that give you 10 free spins, with up to 100 free spins if you get five bonus symbols. I never got more than 3 dragons. There are also stacked wilds, and a "Replicating Wilds" feature -- if a special dragon symbol lands in the center and you have winning lines, it can send out wilds to enhance your win. There is also a "minor" and a "major" progressive. The minor pays out before $50, and the major pays out before $500. Every time you have a significant win a little (very little) is added to the progressive amount. I sat down when my minor progressive was at $42 and after an hour or two (two beers anyways), the progressive inched up to $44 and change, and paid out for me. The payout happens randomly after a win. Over on the other side, a woman played her machine until her minor progressive was well over $49.70 -- then it FINALLY paid off for her.

Probably the most interesting feature of these machines is the "Game Stats" section, where you can see just what the payout history has been. I'm not sure these stats really say anything about what you might win, but they do reveal that Big Wins, and progressive payouts are few and far between (but we knew that already).

I did play for quite a while, and I did leave ahead, but I was generally bored with the games. As I've played so many slots, I do tend to figure them out quickly, and once you know what is happening a certain spark of interest is lost. After all, it is just a new way to take your money.

My major complaint is the graphics, which are a little crude by WMS standards, and I believe the "Server Based" gaming aspect has had all the slot companies churning out new games, but some have been of lesser quality.

So give these new games a spin, but don't expect too much. With the exception of the "Game Stats", you've basically seen all this stuff before.

I'm BAAAAAACKKK!!!

2010-11-13T13:09:00.000-08:00

Wow! Where does the time go? Two and a half years ago, I abandoned this Slot Blog, and just today found it again, and guess what? People ACTUALLY read it, and commented! Now if I can only find the 5 or 6 other blogs I've abandoned -- one is called 'Abandoned Blogs' -- I might keep myself busy writing, and losing less money in the slots.

So the question is, do I still live in Vegas, and do I still play? Yes, and yes.

However, as the Great Recession has taken the wind out of nearly all of our sails, I do limit my time in the casinos to free play, and free buffets. Still, I do try out all the new slots that hit the floor, and I will be more than happy to tell y'all about them.

So, I apologize for falling off the face of the earth, let's just say that weird timeless environment casinos love to create sucked me out of the Bloggersphere for awhile.

I'm back, and looking for the cocktail waitress.

New G+ Series Slots from WMS

2008-03-03T12:30:00.001-08:00

Well, I went searching for new slots last night at Red Rock Casino and I found some -- just not the ones I was hoping for.

I wanted to find the WMS' Money Burst and Rotating Wild machines, but instead stumbled upon some new versions of their G+ series. http://www.wms.com/games_videoreel.php

Par for the course these days -- there is no information on these slots on WMS' website -- but there they are bold as day on the casino floor.

The machines are "Egypt," "Roman Something Or Other," "Fortune Seeker," and "Samarai Something Or Other."

Okay, they aren't really called "Something Or Other," I just can't remember their names exactly, and frankly do we really need more Roman or Asian themes machines? Apparently, we do.

But, I digress . . . the G+ series are simple in their offerings, usually one bonus round, sometimes featuring stacked wilds, and volatile.

Dean Martin's Wild Party Slots Hit the Floor

2008-03-01T12:08:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you find new slots in the strangest places. Last night I was downtown to play my free $15 at Binion's and decided to park at the Vegas Club across the street.

Strolling through the casino to my car, I spied "Glitz" a new "Money Burst" game from WMS I saw next to the Dean Martin game I'd admired at the Global Gaming Expo. With giddy anticipation I checked the bank of machines opposite "Glitz" and there it was! "Dean Martin's Wild Party!"

Sometimes you just never know which casinos are going to feature the new games first. The Vegas Club, in conjuction with it's neighbor the Plaza (both run by Tamares Group -- which has a rather tenuous hold on it's holdings) have seen better days. Still, I've noticed that whoever is running the slot selection is not afraid to try new things, and keep the mix on the casino floor fresh.

Dean Martin's Wild Party is a volatile game, but worth the trouble if you can hit a bonus round. It is unusual in that it starts with only two lines that funnel into sixty. http://www.ggbmagazine.com/department/New_Game_Review/Vol__7_No__1_January_2008

You get sixty lines for thirty credits, and the bonus round of five free spins is triggered if you get four of the same symbols (wilds count) in the first four positions. These symbols hold for the remainder of the spins. If you get three bonus symbols you also get the free spins but have a choice to make (I didn't get there so I don't exactly know how this works) to determine the first symbols.

During the bonus round Dean-o and his background singers keep you entertained with a song I don't quite recall entitled "Go, Go, Go!" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" -- if you are lucky the bonus can be long as all the lines hit and tally up. I got two wild symbols that guaranteed a payoff with every spin. Of course you can speed things along by hitting a button, but as this was my first bonus on this machine I let it take it's time and savored the moment. My thirty cent bet turned into $25.00 in the bonus round.

"Glitz" works the same way, but I don't care for the graphics so I didn't try it out.

Once again I can't find any info on the machine on WMS' website, but consulting my catalog, I see they describe "Money Burst" as "new reel layout, 60 lines for 30 credits, and fast play drive hyper-volatile math model." I'm not so sure I like that "hyper-volatile math model" part. I would say if you are lucky enough to hit a bonus round to skee-daddle like I did.

I almost got out the door of the Vegas Club, but another new slot caught my eye -- this one from IGT. A new Wheel of Fortune machine I didn't notice at the Global Gaming Expo -- "Viva Las Vegas" featuring Elvis Presley as "Lucky" and Ann Margret as "Rusty."

The info I found on IGT's website is adobe stuff, and seems to be for a more traditional mechanical reel game -- word to IGT and WMS -- if the slots are on the floor they should be represented on your website. Oh, and while you are at it, why not have more slot player oriented promotional material?

But I digress -- I hit a couple of bonus rounds (8 free spins) that may or may not entitle you to spin the wheel (a wheel symbol has to pop up) but after a few minutes I was down $10 and decided to go. I enjoyed the Elvis and Ann Margaret singing symbols and the expanding wild, but all and all, I found the bonus round rather boring and unfulfilling, especially when I couldn't hit a wheel spin.

So Wheel of Fortune "Viva Las Vegas" didn't hold my attention as long as Dean Martin's Wild Party, but maybe it was just the kinda night I was having.

I'm glad to see new slots on the floor, and I'll check today to see if Red Rock has added any new slots to the mix.

Cash Back vs. Comps -- It's Not Always a Clear Choice

2008-02-26T13:31:00.000-08:00

The other night I was at Rampart Casino, and it was steak night at the buffet. I knew I had $42 in cash or comps so I headed to the Player's club to get a buffet voucher. Well, it was much easier said than done.

The woman behind the counter told me they were not issueing food vouchers that day. I didn't really understand, but had a vague awareness of an offer where if you get 600 points in a day you will get a free buffet on your next visit.

I told her I wanted to use my regular points to pay for my meal. At Station Casinos this is a pretty simple system, merely swiping my card and entering my pin at the cashier.

She offered me the Rampart/Cannery newspaper and told me there was a coupon in there. I was still rather confused, and finally she told me I could get my cash back and pay cash at the buffet.

So I was issued a voucher for $20 -- roughly half my points, and went to the cashier to get $20 in cold hard cash. I then took my cash and coupon to the buffet.

Sometimes I'm tempted just to cash out all my points around town and be done with it. I'll go back to watching TV and movies at night and eating at In-n-Out burgers.

New Slots on the Floor - Hitchcock Theatre and Up, Up, and Away

2008-02-22T22:15:00.000-08:00

I made the rounds at Suncoast and Rampart casino this week and was pleasantly surprised to see that Wizard of Oz and Monopoly Up, Up and Away are creeping onto the casino floors.

I was amazed to see a new slot WMS' "Hitchcock Theatre" similar (meaning it fits into the same cabinets and has surprise bonuses bases on an extra bet) to "Gold Fish" and "Mermaid's Gold." I went to WMS' website (as I always do to provide a link) but couldn't find anything on this machine.

That left me to my own devices to play the darn thing and figure it out for myself. This of course, was easier said than done, as slot players are geniuses at sniffing out the new machines and testing their luck -- suffice it to say, I had competition.

At Suncoast this was difficult, but I did get a little time and hit a couple of bonus rounds with Alfred Hitchcock as my guide.

Like "Gold Fish" and "Mermaid's Gold" an extra bet of 10 credits is needed to activate the famed director popping up with a "Bird's Bonus" where the reels spin and the birds add wilds to the mix, an intermission bonus where sodas add wilds to three free spins, the popcorn machine adds credits, or a candy bar bonus, which I haven't hit so I don't know what it does.

Already that is three different bonuses . . . but wait . . . there is more!

If you hit three scattered tickets you get 10 free spins with more bonus opportunities. During the free spins if you get three film reels you get to pick one of three classic Hitchcock films and see how the audience reacts. There is also a stacked wild with a multiplier available in the free spins.

Well, it sure does sound like there are many opportunities to win, the trouble of course, is that I lost $25 at the Suncoast on Hitchcock, and won $5 at Rampart, only to quickly escape with my winnings.

I'm not sure how volatile this machine is, but so far, I'm reluctant to spend much time with it. Many of the bonuses give small results, and if you don't get a bonus at all, then you will run through your money very quickly.

Monopoly Up, Up, and Away doesn't seem to fare much better -- it's problem is having lots of bonus possibilities once you hit the cannon shoot gateway, but getting to that point (with three consecutive cannons (sometimes stacked) left to right is very difficult.

All and all, I've learned my lesson and will play these machines very selectively and carefully. I always love a new slot machine, but I'm not going to invest much financially in the experience.

Boredom Gets the Better of Me, IGT's Dragonfly Slots

2008-02-19T10:56:00.000-08:00

Last night I got pretty bored with the routine of the same ole slots, and the same ole casino, and decided to try a new (same ole boring) IGT slot -- Dragonfly.

As I've said over and over, IGT slots are gettting simpler instead of more interesting and Dragonfly is no exception. To prove my point, check out the IGT webpage http://www.igt.com/GamingGroup/Games/game_detail.asp?toggle=ovr&pid=5.113.120&type_id=5115&pl=#cnt -- no graphics, no nothing, just a bare bones description of the slot with the allusion that Dragonflies are good luck to Asians. I wonder what Mr. Lucky would have to say about that? You want some Dragon Fly Rice? But I digress . . .

Anyway, the slot is a 243 way, meaning it pays like a scatter (consecutively) left to right, not line pays. It is AVP (IGT's code for server-based ready) -- you know and come to think of it, that might be the reason the IGT slots are simplified, so that all the bells and whistles don't overload the server??? It's a thought . . .

The graphics on this machine aren't bad. The symbols are done in the style of Art Nouveau artists like Mucha, including lovely ladies and a wild symbol of a lady as a dragonfly.

Three consecutive dragonflies give you 15 free spins at 3X and I was lucky enough to win around $10 on my free spins and break even on the machine I chose.

I may try Dragonfly again, just as I've succomb to Super Happy Fortune Cat -- the Asian trend continues, but I still pine for an updated version of Mr. Lucky's Fortune Cookie -- I just might like Dragon Fly Rice.

The R Word, and the S Word

2008-02-17T18:31:00.000-08:00

So do you want the bad news, or do you want the bad news? The Review Journal and the Las Vegas Sun is full of it today. The first on a two-part column about the R-E-C-E-S-S-I-O-N called "The R Word" http://www.lvrj.com/business/15713402.html was lengthy and sugar-coated the real story, which is -- Yes, of course, we are in a RECESSION, and it's going to be bad -- with statements such as "With Strip construction booming, a building executive says he has a hard time seeing the Las Vegas economy heading into a recession." and "Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson is confident the convention business will weather any downturn."

Okay, so the muckety-mucks gotta talk confident so their stocks don't plummet further. Meanwhile Wynn stock fell by $9 on a poor fourth quarter. http://www.lvrj.com/business/15713417.html

But let's move on the slots, and the bad news there. The S Word, Server Based Gaming is being tested at TI (formerly known as Treasure Island). http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/feb/17/dont-worry-your-slot-bets-are-still-safe/

Don't you just love the title of this article and the photo of the smiling slot player? Sure -- Don't Worry, Be Happy! -- Your Slot Bet is Still Safe!!!

What is good about this article is the large photo that gives you a good view of what server-based machines look like. Check out the cabinet, and the sure fire give away -- a video screen where the glass graphics used to be.

Knock on wood, um, I mean glass, and you will be sure of playing a traditional slot. The video screen can be changed at whim, the glass printed panel would have to be manually switched out to change the game. I've already written about the demise of wild sculptural toppers like the Dukes of Hazzard General Lee, and the Green Acres pig -- surely these won't survive in the new age of server based games.

Las Vegas Officially Recession Proof . . . NOT !!!

2008-02-16T21:19:00.000-08:00

Well, the big news from Las Vegas this week is LAYOFFS and HIRING FREEZES!!! Can you spell R-E-C-E-S-S-I-O-N ??!! -- it's kinda like D-I-V-O-R-C-E . . . a dirty little word that should be spelled out so the kids don't freak out and think the world is coming to an end.

Of course, the world, or more specifically THEIR world IS coming to an end, and if you didn't get a pink slip this week, well, just wait -- no one safe when the gravy train wrecks.

Yep, the sky is falling . . . but not for the muckety mucks in the corner office -- they'll hang on to their jobs and ride out the down cycle if they can just keep the pesky front line from eating into their little utopia.

The big word here is IF . . . and as I've reported before, when the head honchos are losing billions in stock value, heads are gonna roll faster than video reels.

Here is how the local media sums it up -- http://www.lvrj.com/business/15697987.html
"Harrah's Responds to Slowdown with Labor Reductions"

This is 9/11 Bull Sh*t all over again. They will all wave the flag as they screw the working man. Another prime example of the f*cked up world we live in. God Bless America.

Of course what the brilliant minds in the conference room never understand is that the grinders will keep grinding if they present us with true value and a fair shake.

Loosen up the slots, and keep the free buffets coming -- 'cuz we do need to console ourselves with food, drink, and slots in these troubled times.

Yeah, like THAT is gonna happen.

The Casino Loves Me

2008-02-14T13:10:00.001-08:00

Well, Silverton wins again for the best player's card giveaway. I will visit for a free box of Russell Stouffer's chocolate -- in a heart shaped box of course.

I might even use my free birthday buffet -- I only wish it were steak night, but I believe that is Friday and Saturday.

Yesterday, the Orleans was giving away Valentine's chocolate, but you had to earn 100 points between 11 am and 7 pm -- which was too restricting for me.

Meanwhile, Station Casinos is offering 7X points the 14-18 to promote their new free play for points system. My normal cautious play might get me a buffet or two (or perhaps $10 free play depending how I want to spend it) -- I'll probably spend some time there each day.

Players LOVE WMS' Wizard of Oz Slots

2008-02-12T14:09:00.000-08:00

I was walking through the Orleans yesterday, past the two Wizard of Oz slots that they have, when I heard a woman stop, and positively gush "Oh look, they have IT!" pointing to the Oz slots like it was truly her heart's desire.

She didn't have much chance to play the slots, as they are so popular, people are usually two or three deep in their vicinity watching others play, and hoping to get a turn.

The same is true at Red Rock.

I just don't understand why slot managers don't put in more of these machines. Over the past few months they have proven to be more than a passing interest, like Top Gun or Monopoly Top Box.

For whatever reason, people really love to play the Wizard of Oz.

I've played it enough to know that it gets dull real quick as my credits vanish -- like pretty much every other slot machine. It is fairly volatile, and if you don't get a nice visit from Glinda the Good Witch, or pick well in the Oz bonus, you can kiss your money goodbye.

I'm not sure exactly why this machine is so successful -- maybe it is because there are so few of them, or people just love to hate those flying monkeys.

Gung Hay Fat Choy! You want Curry Chicken or Furry Cat?!

2008-02-11T15:34:00.000-08:00

It's Chinese New Year, and Vegas is rolling out the red carpet, literally. The decorations are lavish at the MGM Grand and the Bellagio. Sin City has always courted Asian gamblers who are even more avid over the two week holiday.

In light of the celebration, today I'm going to write about one of my favorite old school video reel slot machines -- IGT's Fortune Cookie. This machine is so politically incorrect, I was certain when I first saw it that Asians would complain and it would be yanked from Casino floors. Obviously this didn't happen, and even though they are getting harder to find (especially penny versions) a few still exist in Las Vegas.

Mr. Lucky, the chinese restaurant owner is a crude stereotype, but pretty damn funny as well. When you get to the bonus round and order food off the menu, Mr. Lucky repeats your order and occasionally comments -- "You want Hot and Sour Soup? Like my girl friend and my wife?" "You want Curry Chicken, or Furry Cat?""Orange Peel beef, this one beef that don't a-peel to cow!" and "You got a beef with broccoli? Don't take it out on me!" are a few.

In the Fortune Cookie bonus (three scattered cookies) you choose from three cookies and your fortune is revealed. They range from tame (Things are Looking Up!) to downright tacky (Don't repeat the mistakes of your father -- Don't marry your mother!)

I like to play the 9 line penny version of Fortune Cookie and move between 1 and 5x per line. I can usually play for quite a while on $20 this way, hit a few bonus rounds and be entertained by Mr. Lucky and his Fortune Cookies.

IGT should really come out with a new version of this game, but as I've said before many, many times -- IGT seems pretty intent on moving backwards and simplifying games, instead of improving their popular creations.

Free Buffets for the Rest of My Days

2008-02-10T12:23:00.000-08:00

Sorting through the Birthday Offers this month, Silverton wins hands down with two free buffets. Red Rock ponied up with a $15 dining certificate which is not bad, but still not the value Silverton is willing to dish out.

Looking over my points and free meals, it seems as though I'll never have to cook, or pay for food again.

It sounds great, but the buffets, and the cafes do become tiresome -- I always end up eating too much and my health suffers.

I've put on ten pounds since I moved to Vegas, and I am getting downright pudgy.

Of course, this is a situation that is good to have, right?

Note that it is possible to show restraint and eat healthy in a buffet, just as it is possible to stick to a strict gambling budget.

That said I hear my stomach growling and my slot elbow is itching.

A Slot Machine in Your Watch, Time is Money!

2008-02-09T12:01:00.000-08:00

Next time I win a $625,000 Jackpot, I'll be sure to pick up one of these watches so that I can stay punctual on the twelfth of never.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/feb/09/625000-watch-slot-addicted/ Wynn is offering this beauty of a time piece that has a small slot machine in it's case.

The informative article gives quite a bit of detail on the precision handcraftmanship that goes into this watch.

For $625,000 it better come with a round the clock cocktail waitress.

I'm betting some smarty in China is already working on the $19.95 version.

The Mile High Player's Club

2008-02-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

In light of their sinking stock, Sands hope profits will soar with their new tricked out high roller jets. They are outfitting two planes with baccarat tables so that their high flying clientele can gamble the hours up up and away. http://www.lvrj.com/business/15474536.html

It seems gambling in the great blue yonder is similiar to gambling on a cruise ship, once you are in (or apparently over) international waters, it's anybody's bet. Which leads to the inevitable question -- why not outfit jetliners with slot machines?

Well, it seems none other than Kirk Kerkorkian who ran a shortlived MGM airlines did in fact propose it.

Unfortunately, it was never to be.

As Tammy Wynette and George Jones sang -- "I'm not the jetset" but if ever I did find myself on a 14 hour flight I certainly would be first in line to join the Mile High Player's Club.

Station Casinos to Introduce Free Play for Points

2008-02-08T12:09:00.000-08:00

You heard it here first -- starting February 14th Station Casinos will introduce a program where you can redeem your points for free play.

The lovely young lady was so happy to tell me all about it at the player's club.

I inquired when I saw big red balloons throughout the casino the other day, and apparently she was thrilled to tout the new addition to an interested party.

Here's how it works. 1000 points will be equal to $1 free play, but you can only redeem in $5 increments. There are slot machine shaped kiosks placed throughout the casino which players can use for the conversion.

As I generally keep about 20,000 point on my card that I use for free buffets (a lunch buffet requires about 4,500 points) I doubt that I will convert my points to play, but you never know.

I personally tend to be motivated by free food, but I'm glad to see any casino expand the possibilities of their points.

Slot Players not the Only Losers at Wynn, Venetian, and Bellagio

2008-02-07T15:01:00.000-08:00

In a wonderful, rare case of poetic justice the Review Journal reports on the losses of the bosses, and it's massive.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/15392936.html

Sheldon Adelson, third richest man in America has seen his fortune drop 40% or $10.8 BILLION dollars since October. Apparently Sands stock isn't performing up to snuff, and all the grand opening press for the Pal can't save it.

Across the street at Wynn, Steve-baby has lost a mere $1.4 Billion, or a third of his stock value.

At at the other end of the strip, my personal favorite, the real lion of industry Kirk Kerkorkian has lost $2.6 Billion or a third of his stock value in MGM Grand. I'm sure Kirk isn't sweating it, he's been there and done that his whole life.

All these guys are pretty old, especially Kirk, and certainly they could never spend all their riches -- so I don't anticipate any charity events for their benefit.

That's the way the stock market tumbles -- I'd recommend buying stock in Station Casinos, but of course they just went private.

It almost, and I stress ALMOST makes me want to drop a twenty in Kirk, Sheldon, and Steve's tight-ass slots. It just might help their bottom line.

But, I say they are getting just what they deserve -- bend over boys!

Well, you know what they say -- the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Slot Makers are Thrilled with Super Tuesday Results

2008-02-07T14:54:00.000-08:00

http://www.lvrj.com/business/15392841.html

WMS is cleaning up in the slot wars. A couple of years ago an article like this from the Review Journal would be detailing IGT's successes.

As I've constantly said WMS delivers a far superior product, and the tide has definitely turned in their favor.

Cali Slot Props Pass as Predicted

2008-02-06T11:26:00.000-08:00

Well, once again the slot players pay. As an ardent slot jock you may think I would welcome more slot machines -- and, in a sense I do. However, when these slots are added to fill a hole in a state budget, the aftermath becames painfully clear. The slot jocks lose, and the government wins.

I'm thankful I live in Las Vegas, and at least feel like every now and again I have a chance to break even, and maybe (a big maybe here) even walk out of a casino a winner.

Slot players in California don't stand a chance.

On Super Tuesday, the slot props passed. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/06/MN7QUPQ7N.DTL

The Indians (three tribes anyway) win, Schwarzenegger wins, and the slot manufacturers win. You can guess who the losers are.

It would be foolish for me to propose that the 17,000 slot machines don't get played. If I lived near these Indian casinos I would be first in line to try them out.

Let's just call it what it is -- a vice tax, and a stiff one at that.

I always said the Indians will get this country back -- one twenty dollar bill at a time.

When you play in California just envision $5 of every $20 going in the Terminator's pocket.

Stations Casino's 32 Second Rule

2008-02-05T12:24:00.000-08:00

Those who have played at Station Casinos are probably familiar with the Jumbo Jackpot and that when it hits everyone playing receives $50 in free play.

Well, there is a catch -- and last night I found out the hard way.

The Jumbo Jackpot was over $140,000 and had a pretty good shot at hitting any time.

I have only been playing once when it hit, another time I was in the buffet, and once a friend of mine was playing without a card and stupidly I was just standing by her machine.

Last night I was technically playing, at least I thought I was. To be more specific my card was in the machine and credits were active, only I was talking to the person next to me and as I'm the kind of person who can't do two things at once, I wasn't actively hitting the button.

When the music went off and the screen flashed "The Jumbo Jackpot is now $100,000" indicating it had been hit, the girl behind me screamed. I actually thought maybe SHE had won the Jackpot and ran over to her.

Her machine showed $50 in free play (she hadn't won the Jackpot) and that alone had her pretty excited.

When I returned to my machine it did not show the $50 free play.

The woman I was talking to had actually taken her card out when it hit.

I decided to go to the Player's Club and ask about why I didn't get in on the deal. I was told to return to my machine and ask a GSA -- Guest Service Ambassador -- about the situation.

I did as I was told turning the service light on my machine. My neighbor had moved to my machine in my absence. The GSA told me that I had to be in on a 32 second cycle when the Jackpot hit to receive the free play.

So, that's what I get for talking and not playing -- no $50 free play. I learned the hard way to keep actively wagering no matter how scintillating the conversation.

As luck would have it I sat down next to my neighbor and quickly hit a $50 line pay on WMS' "Goosin' Around." She then hit a $50 bonus round on "Jewels of the Night."

So we got our $50 after all, and cash trumps free play every time.

Cashback Angels Promotion at South Point Casino

2008-02-04T13:35:00.000-08:00

I got to give it to Michael (son of Jackie) Gaughan's South Point Casino Promotions people. They do come up with some clever marketing campaigns.

The latest involve the "Cashback Angels" http://www.southpointcasino.com/cashbackangels/

The gist of this is supposedly to convince you that you get more cashback at the South Point than other casinos.

That point I don't dispute. The problem is I can't win there to save my life and the slot selection is poor.

Once a casino has put a bad taste in the mouth of a slot player, it is exceedingly hard to remove it.

Of course I recommend free Steak House vouchers.

I probably have enough points for a free lunch buffet at the South Point and those were hard earned, resulting in heavy losses. What I should do is cash out those points and be done with the place.

I do enjoy the events in the Equestrian Center, and will frequent the joint from time to time. I've learned however to walk right through the casino.

I have no idea where all the 99% slot machines are, but we all know that claim is the oldest in the book, and has little bearing on an average players' session.

The South Point is going to have to come up with something better than Cashback Angels to get me playing there again.

Slots, Slots, and More Slots

2008-02-04T12:01:00.000-08:00

I couple of articles caught my eye this morning, and they all add up to one thing -- more slots.

The Las Vegas Sun is reporting casinos, and more casinos in North Las Vegas. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/feb/04/casinos-and-more-casinos-coming/

More casinos means more slots, and it looks like Stations Casinos will continue its grip on the local's market.

I've been pretty hard on Stations, but they did send me a $15 food voucher for my birthday, so they're not all bad.

Truth be told, Red Rock is the nearest casino to me, so it is where I spend most my time. I really have no one to blame but myself for giving them my play.

The San Francisco Chronicle offers us this nugget http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/04/BANSUQN1M.DTL about the amount of money spent on the Indian Gaming Wars, i.e. propositions for 17,000 more slots to be voted on tomorrow, Super Tuesday.

I don't live in California, so I haven't been subjected to the 69 ads per week, TV viewers in the Golden State are subjected to regarding these slots.

17,000 Slots would probably be the equivalent of 4 Large Casinos, so here in Las Vegas we'll get that increase in due course.

The good news for Cali players, if the props pass is more slot selection -- the bad news is they are in Indian Casinos that will pay a 25% tax on the profits. I've said it before, and I'll say it again -- these slots are gonna be tight.

Slots - Vocation or Avocation?

2008-02-03T16:10:00.000-08:00

In a Review Journal article entitled "These tips may ease tax time" http://www.lvrj.com/business/15155016.html the writer tells the tale of Linda Myers of Minnesota who went to court to defend her slot playing as a legitimate business.

She began playing slots in 1992 after her husband died, spending 35 hours a week in a casino.

That scenario sounds pretty typical, and I'll bet the casino was Mystic Lake, an Indian casino I've spent a few hours in myself outside the Twin Cities.

Here's were the story gets unusual -- Linda claims to have developed winning strategies for the $1 slots. There is only one definitive winning strategy I know of -- Luck!

If you are lucky you could earn a living playing slots, but I doubt anyone would be lucky enough year after year.

Still according to the article she won her argument, and somehow reflected her slot "business" on her taxes.

As for me, this will be the first year I incorporate my slot losses in my tax return. Time will tell how that works out.

The Slot Jock's Guide to Superbowl Prop Betting

2008-02-02T11:50:00.000-08:00

I admit, it is exciting to see the action as hordes of bettors invade Vegas for Super Bowl Sunday.

You can bet on practically anything in Vegas, and the Super Bowl really brings out the lengths Sportsbooks will go to give the gambler what they want -- Proposition or "Prop bets."

Betting on the final outcome of the game too boring for you? Why not bet on who will score first, or even who will win the coin toss? But even those bets are old hat, compared with exotic wagers like -- which will be greater -- accumulative points scored in first half of Super Bowl, or Dirk Nowitzki's points plus rebounds in Sunday's Mavericks-Pistons game?

For those who have no real interest in football, there are a litany of other bets to be made -- this list from The Bachelor Guy website made me chuckle.

http://www.thebachelorguy.com/24-outrageous-super-bowl-bets-thatll-sack-your-bank-account.html

How about betting on the length of Jordin Sparks National Anthem, or which song Tom Petty will close his set with?

It seems to me practice for the Half Time show will render these bets almost pointless, but what about which commercial will be the most popular? Bud, my beer of choice is a 2 to 1 favorite, while Victoria's Secret is 9 to 1 -- any woman who tried to get her man's attention during a football game will attest that lingerie is good, but beer is better.

Who will the MVP thank first? God (5 to 2) or the Coach (5 to 1)?

You'll have to be really observant to track how many time Archie Manning will be shown on the broadcast, and you can bet on that, but what about Eli's mom, Olivia? http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/29/sports/football/29manning.html?em&ex=1201755600&en=df44fd9d38252845&ei=5087%0A She rated this article in the New York Times, what about a Prop bet for her?

I heard on the radio yesterday, that the bet with the longest odds is a Super Bowl without touchdowns -- it pays 300 to 1.

Hilton's Superbook seems to be ground central for Prop Mania, http://www.lvhilton.com/casino/superbook.shtml offering over 300 different bets.

I had a great spot to watch the Super Bowl last year, perched at a "Gold Fish" slot machine with a clear view of the screens in Terrible's Sport Book. I actually came out ahead on the slot, drank plenty of beer and enjoyed the boisterous revelry of the game and game watchers.

This year, I'm not sure where I'll watch the action or what I will bet on. I do like underdogs, so I just might back Eli and Victoria's Secret.

More Birthday Offerings in the Mail

2008-02-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

It's now officially my birthday month -- don't you love the concept of celebrating the whole MONTH!? -- and the enticements from local casinos continues.

The best gift came from Silverton, who is offering me two free buffets (it will probably be one one buffet as I usually hit the casino alone, and apparently it is two buffets for one visit.)

The others are pretty chintzy. Rampart is offering me a free logo T-shirt or hat. I probably won't even take them up on this, unless I need some polishing rags -- that is usually what I use the free T-shirts for.

Terrible's is offering me a reduced room rate, which I would use if I live out of town (but I DON'T), and $5 free play.

Casinos need to realize that folks are most often motivated by a free meal, or a substantial amount of free play.

More Slots for Florida - Cali Votes Tuesday

2008-01-31T12:06:00.000-08:00

In a major victory for slots manufacturers, Floridians voted for more slot machines.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/15064041.html

In an overwhelming vote of 63 to 37%, the Miami area is cleared for 6,000 additional slots in horse and dog racing facilities.

This article reveals that non-Indian gaming facilities in Florida pay 50% tax on slot profits -- Wow!!! I'd steer clear of those slots, I'll bet they are pretty tight.

Here in Nevada, casinos pay 6% taxes, and you can be darn sure with our state budget deficit ever growing, that upping that tax is hotly debated.

Meanwhile in California, next Tuesday's voting will determine if a select group of Native American casinos can add more slots paying 25% in taxes.

I Wander the MGM Casino in search of Oz

2008-01-30T14:28:00.000-08:00

Last night after a trip to the Palazzo to visit Barney's NY (more on that later) I headed over to the MGM Grand to see if they had any Wizard of Oz slots.

Makes sense, right? Oh sure, I know MGM doesn't own the film anymore, but still history links the MGM brand and the Wonderful Wizard forever in our memories. So, it would follow that the humongous MGM casino would have a few of these slots on the floor.

Unfortunately, no. The MGM has plenty of slots, mostly old, and outdated. The whole trip depressed me, and I left without wagering a single penny.

The Casino Giveth and the Casino Taketh Away

2008-01-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

I was pleased to get two free buffets in my birthday month from Silverton Casino. However, when my monthly flier arrived in my mailbox yesterday I was dismayed to see that Silverton had cut my free play down from $10 to $5 a week.

You would think that if my play was waning, they would want to pump it up, not cut it back.

Fact is, I'm bored with the slot selection, and bored with losing.

Do you HEAR that Silverton, and Rampart, and just about every other casino in town?!!

Get new slots, loosen then up, and send me more free play. Get me in the casino, and you'll still get my money, trust me.

Giving Atronic Games a Chance

2008-01-29T09:57:00.000-08:00

Last night I was Silverton (free play and buffet) and I decided to give a bank of new Atronic games a shot.

Atronic games are best recognized by their unique cabinets that have a button on either side that raises or lowers the screen.

The games themselves are graphically crude and uninteresting.

I tried "Champagne and Roses" a penny nine liner, on the premise I couldn't lose too much.

http://www.atronic.com/Games/Video_Slots/emotion/Game_1190206919

I couldn't win anything either, and was quickly bored.

I moved over to some roman themed game with 25 lines and quickly lost $10 with no bonus round in sight.

Nobody playing at the bank should have clued me in to the popularity of these games -- they're dogs.

I have no idea why casinos continue to buy Atronic games.

My First Big Line Pay!

2008-01-28T13:21:00.000-08:00

$100 is not the most I've won on a slot machine, but for a line pay with a 20 cent bet, it isn't bad.

Last night I was playing WMS' "The Great Wall of China" at Red Rock Casino.

http://www.wms.com/game-detail.php?Category=00&Themes=705

Red Rock has a few banks of "Cash Blitz" machines that randomly pay out one of three progressive amounts. I was sitting next to a woman playing "Super Jackpot Party" who won a Cash Blitz of $11. She didn't know what had happened, so I explained it to her.

As we continued to play she mentioned she'd like a bonus round, and I agreed as I hadn't hit one, though a $8 line pay kept me going.

I was about to give up on my machine when I got a two Great Wall symbols and two wild symbols. I was hoping to get another wild symbol to head to the bonus round, but got another Great Wall. The line pay paid $100. I was naturally thrilled, and my neighbor was impressed. I checked the pay table and 10000 credits was the best line pay. She checked her pays on her machine and it's best line paid 5000 credits.

I had invested less than $5 in the machine, but had been playing a while on my little wins.

As this was my first machine of the night, I knew Red Rock would be getting some of the money back as I continued to play.

I moved on and played for about another hour, before leaving the casino $60 richer.

I can't remember ever winning the best line pay, so all in all a good day.

A Free Buffet for my Birthday

2008-01-27T14:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got another mailer from Silverton Casino. I get at least one a week from Silverton, they really know how to get suckers, um, I mean players in the door.

This new offer was for two free buffets (breakfast, lunch, brunch, or dinner) in the month of my birthday. I love getting free food or play offers in the mail, so this was great.

The Silverton has a pretty good buffet that was remodeled this year. Design wise, it is an amazing mixture of modern elements, very cluttered with stuff that is usually associated with modern spa like joints. You just don't know what to look at next, the bank of video screens showing ever changing nature shots, the fountain, the ceiling, the branch like doodads . . .

The weirdest thing is the elevated tables and booth on the south side. There is no easy way to get to them. If you use the ramp you risk colliding with servers from the kitchen, if you choose to step up, good luck finding a suitable opening not blocked by metal bead curtains or furniture.

The food is better than average, with impressive little dessert thingies. The salad bar is small, and there are no Mexican selections -- Italian, Chinese, American and Seafood are pretty well covered, but don't look for any guacamole or refried beans.

On free buffet nights, when player's get their offers in the mail, get there early (4pm) or late, or you'll be waiting in line forever.

I'm looking forward to Silverton expanding their casino, currently it is rather depressing -- very dark with a slot selection that leaves a lot to be desired.

In terms of free buffets, free play, and free giveaways, however -- Silverton is hard to beat.

The Ultimate Player's Card - Rock Royalty

2008-01-26T13:22:00.000-08:00

The uber celebrity gossip/sighting/news website TMZ has revealed a Player's Card so exclusive it has only seven members -- The Rock Royalty card from Hard Rock Casino.

http://www.tmz.com/2008/01/25/hard-rock-royalty-who-are-the-lucky-seven/

After clicking to see I think I recognize 50 cent, Brittany Murphy, Jon Bon Jovi, Jack Black and John Legend. Oops that is Billy Morrison (who the heck is he?) not Jon Bon, Maria Bell0 (yeah, I never heard of her either), and Diego Luna (???) -- what a weird list of folks who don't Rock Hard.

I'm guessing these sorta-celebs don't play the penny slots, but Hard Rock has an opportunity to promote their (apparently) tiered club, and this is the result?

Here is the online sign up for the Rockstar club http://www.hardrockhotel.com/las-vegas/casino/rockstarclub.cfm -- it doesn't seem to offer many perks for the locals player. I think I'll pass. The Hard Rock casino is small, and they took out their Jimi Hendrix and Sex Pistols Quarter slots with the guitar handles for pulls. Those were cool.

Hot Slots at the Monte Carlo

2008-01-26T10:47:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know that was a bad title, but I couldn't resist. At least I didn't call the reservations desk yesterday and ask if they had any smoking rooms.

The fire at the Monte Carlo casino in Las Vegas was mostly on the roof and under control in about an hour. Everyone was evacuated and only a few minor injuries were reported.

That said, it could have been worse, much worse.

The material that burned brightest was dryvit covered styrofoam exterior decorative stuff. Check out the comments connected to this Las Vegas Sun story and you'll get the drift that this building material is popular and dangerous. http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/news/2008/jan/25/fire-monte-carlo/

Look at this photo from the Monte Carlo website and you will see the trim along the roof and below what I believe are the High Roller Suites -- compare that with photos of the fire and it shows just how highly combustible this substance is. http://www.montecarlo.com/whatsnew/

Also the evacuation procedures eerily echo the tragedy of 9/11 with guests being told to stay put, until the source of the emergency is located.

In retrospect hundreds of people died in the twin towers because they obeyed orders and didn't get the hell out of dodge.

I'm the kind of traveler who likes to stay on high floors in hotels, because they are quieter, usually more luxurious if you get upgraded, and provide better views. I'm an idiot.

It is obviously safer to stay on lower floors near exits.

I love a hot slot, but when the roof is on fire, it is time to leave.

Viva Laughlin! Comps are Better Off Strip

2008-01-25T11:37:00.000-08:00

This article in the Las Vegas Sun entitled "Gamblers’ best bets for free drinks, meals in Clark County are Laughlin, that other Strip" shows in hard numbers the facts.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jan/25/gamblers-best-bets-free-drinks-meals-clark-county-/

If you want to get comped steer clear of the Las Vegas strip.

Locals' casinos and apparently Laughlin are generous with the perks. Could be that they're number two and they have to try harder.

As a local, I can pretty much get a free meal any old day, but boy do they cost me.

I used to figure walking in a casino would cost me about $50 at my rate of play. I've had to up that amount to $100. A free buffet and a few drinks does little to eleviate the sting of the losses.

Still, for the casual gambler, it's definitely worth looking beyond the Vegas Strip for a good time.

The R Word -- are Slots really RECESSION Proof?

2008-01-23T12:40:00.000-08:00

There I said it -- we are in a RECESSION. The R word used to mean Retirement, especially when posed to famous athletes and such, but it's a brand new scary day, and we are in a RECESSION.

It's not that we all didn't see the writing on the wall. The Real Estate bubble has officially burst, and the fallout has hit the world stock markets hard.

A certain friend of mine was screaming and yelling "The Sky is Falling!" a year ago, so he must be pretty proud of himself now.

But what about Casinos -- are they worried?

Here in Vegas, not much. . . yet.

But check out this NYTimes article from 1992 entitled "Long Viewed as Safe From Slumps, Las Vegas Finally Feels the Recession". Remember 1992? Yep, me neither. My life has changed little from year to year, boom or bust, my lifestyle is about the same. I'm not proud of it, but I'm not freaking out, either. I'm proud to say I've never even considered declaring bankruptcy, and with the recent law changes I probably never will.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE0DD123AF931A35752C0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all

That said, it seems in 1992 Vegas was worried.

But that was then, and this is now. So today Sin City references glowing articles about the new (ho-hum) Palazzo written by folks from Chicago who don't even gamble.
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/travel/754491,CST-NWS-vegas0123.article

"I'm no gambler, but I'll bet the Palazzo won't have a hard time filling those 3,068 suites. Neither will the neighboring Wynn resort, currently building a second hotel tower, or MGM Mirage's CityCenter, a massive mixed-use development well under way.
"Every time a new hotel goes up here, people say the same thing, 'They'll never fill it,' " said Darcy Nielson, a Vegas native who manages the Christophe Salon in the MGM Grand. "And somehow, they always do."

So will history repeat itself, or will history repeat itself. . .

Vegas has done an amazing job at establishing itself as the world's premiere escapist fantasy, largely by selling the sizzle. The steak has always been gambling, and it always will.

Today, gambling revenues are driven by slot machines, roughly 70% of casino profits come from slot machines, and that figure is likely to grow. When casino operators have a cash cow, they milk it.

Machines are getting tighter and tighter, as casinos become resorts, and sell the overall experience of escapism.

To sum it up, plan on your Vegas trip costing you more and more in the RECESSION, if you are an avid slot player. Call it trickle down economics, but you will have to pay dearly for your experience.

Remember the Golden Rule is the House always wins, and the construction is not going to grind to a complete halt due to the RECESSION.

They don't build these pleasure palaces on people's winnings.

Estate Planning for the Slot Player

2008-01-22T13:32:00.000-08:00

So, I'm reading the fine print on my "Club Coast" Rules Card, and this little tidbit catches my eye.

"In the event of the death of a member, redeemable cash back points may become the property of the member's estate."

Wooo Doggie!!! That gives a whole new wrinkle to the reading of the will. . .

To my beloved Ellen I leave the house, the cars, and the stocks.

To my eldest son Jack I leave $25,000 and my golf clubs.

To my daughter Karen I leave $15,000 and the time share.

To my youngest son Seth, who I always told to step away from the buffet, I leave my slot points.

New Boyd Slot Club a Bust

2008-01-21T13:17:00.000-08:00

This holiday weekend many casinos in town are offering good point multipliers, and I was lured to the Orleans by 7x points plus a bonus of 1,000 points (sent to me in a mailer.)

It gave me an opportunity to see if any new machines were on the floor, and to check out their new players' club.

I was underwhelmed on both counts.

While the folks in front of me were offered a free buffet for signing up, I received no such offer for surrending my new card. I have about 12,000 points, and I forgot to ask about the cash back (I think it is $1 for every 1000 points, but I'm not sure.)

I did grab a flyer with the rules on it, but nowhere did it mention cash back.

Today I went to the new club's website http://www.bconnectedonline.com/index.html and I couldn't find cash back levels there either.

I was also disappointed that the downtown properties (The Cal, Main Street Station, and the Fremont) are not yet linked to the card.

Boyd does have a slot finder similar to Harrah's on the club website, but it is not completely up to date (I spied two Wizard of Oz machines at the Orleans not listed in the slot finder for that property.)

The slot finder is a valuable tool for me, mostly reminding me why I don't visit Harrah's or Boyd properties often. The slot selection is just not up to snuff, and neither is the slot club.

Boyd and Coast (they are the same company) isn't all bad, with a little tweaking they could really compete with Stations for the locals market, but for the time being, I'm not impressed.

There's Gold in Them There Slots!

2008-01-21T12:39:00.000-08:00

Those of you familiar will WMS' "PayDirt" game will recognize the title of this post.

I'm writing again of the California Indian Slot Intiative. This article from the San Francisco Chronicle takes a good stab at covering the issue. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2008/01/21/MN7GUFMBC.DTL

What these articles never seem to address is the slot player's losses on these machines. I haven't really crunched the numbers, but it appears to be massive. So what about the real losers? The players!

So Ahnold wasn't able to keep the state out of the red, so he makes side deals with the redskins (sorry, I couldn't resist a very un p.c. pun -- actually the California Indians on the whole have very little Native American blood in them.)

Honestly, as a single person with no children and no mortgage who uses very little social services, and never gets any tax breaks -- I really don't care about the quality of public education and fire services in California. I was born and raised there and they got plenty of my money in the process.

I do care about the return on slot machines.

Any moron could read between the lines and know that in California the slots will not be kind.

Hillary Hits the Slots

2008-01-20T13:48:00.000-08:00

I hate Hillary Clinton. I hate what she says, and how she says it -- her deep measured voice is more annoying than nails on a chalkboard. She says stupid things like "I ain't no little ole woman standing by my man and baking cookies" and then she does exactly that. She's a first class bitch, and a liar . . . oh, did I mention I hate her?

So you can imagine my chagrin when I read this headline in the Las Vegas Sun -- "See Clinton victorious, right by the slot machines" http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jan/20/see-clinton-victorious-right-slot-machines/

Nowhere in this article does it say Hillary actually played the slots, but it does say that the Clintons were staying at the Bellagio -- well, la de da.

If Hillary wanted to connect with the common man and woman (and child), she should have stayed at Circus Circus and played the penny machines. That's where the Latino families she appears to be so popular with stay. But no, she's Hillary, she stays at the Bellagio. Did I mention I hate her?

New from IGT -- the World's Most BORING Slot!

2008-01-19T12:41:00.001-08:00

I read yesterday that profits are down at IGT -- no surprise there.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/13890917.html

Perhaps it is because they continually churn out BORING slot machines. There I said it. Dull, dull, dull. . .

To prove my case I thought I would play one of their new slots - Three Pandas - last night at Red Rock.

Okay, the name says it all. If you get three pandas you get free spins. No stacked wilds, no fancy graphics, just three pandas. I never got three pandas so I can't tell you if the bonus round is any more exciting than the base game.

http://www.igt.com/GamingGroup/Games/game_detail.asp?toggle=ovr&pid=5.113.120&type_id=5324&pl=#cnt

Now granted it's not the the ugliest slot I've ever seen, just boring. IGT really needs to ditch or revamp these Aussie import "Lightning Box" games they are producing.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the stock analysts really need to get out of the office and actually wager some money on these slots before rendering their verdicts and predictions. IGT will not get back on track with losers like "Three Pandas."

Strip Revenues Up, Downtown Down

2008-01-18T13:52:00.000-08:00

Today's article in the Review Journal is certainly a good news/bad news sorta deal depending on what side of the Las Vegas city limits you do business.

At first blush "GAMING REVENUE: Casinos post record net income Report puts figure for major Nevada resorts at $5.8 billion" sounds great, but as I read through the figures some disparity rose its ugly head.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/13890927.html

"A breakdown shows resorts on the Las Vegas Strip had gross revenues of $15.8 billion and a net win of $1.66 billion, up 33 percent. Downtown Las Vegas resorts reported revenue of $1.1 billion and net win of $64.6 million, down 54 percent."

Wow, for the downtown casino operators, that's gotta hurt.

New MONOPOLY Slot -- Up, Up and Away!

2008-01-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

I was pretty excited the other day when I spied one of the new WMS slot machines I saw at the Global Gaming Expo on a casino floor.

Unfortunately, that casino was the Four Queens. The Four Queens in downtown Las Vegas cleverly disguises itself as a mid-level value joint, but don't let that fool you. The slots are extremely tight. I don't think I have EVER won anything there. The slot selection is pretty good if you want to try out new games, but don't expect to play long.

When I saw the Monopoly "Up, Up and Away!" http://www.wms.com/game-detail.php?Category=00&SubCat=&SubCat2=&Themes=770 at the trade show, I could have swore it was a "Transmissive Reels" game, but I think WMS has finally gotten the message and scaled back this technology. It just didn't fly, and "Up, Up, and Away!" is now the follow-up to Super Grand Hotel.

I ran through $30 in less than ten minutes and only got the bonus round once. Instead of all sorts of possible bonus games I came up short with only 100 credits. It was a miserable experience.

I may play this game again, and I'm sure it will be around as it fits into the Super Grand Hotel bank of machines . . . only NOT at the Four Queens.

Don't you Love Best/Worst Lists?

2008-01-14T14:39:00.000-08:00

Oh sure you do, almost as much as top ten lists. One day, I might actually write one, but until then I guess I'll just comment on others.

I give you . . . drumroll please . . . the TRIPPIES!

Yeah, I'm a bit underwhelmed myself, but where Vegas is concerned I'm going out on a limb to say the Trippies is as good as any other Vegas website attempt at grandiose posturing, and "we're cool like that" critiques.

The funny thing about the 2007 Best/Worst Trippie awards is that the same entity might win both best and worst in the same category. What sort of twisted minds vote for this stuff?

No matter, its Vegas, its online, its something to do while I'm not constantly checking the Britney updates on TMZ. Shameful I know, but I didn't really care until she got the collagen in her lips, that's when I knew she had really lost it. Even Britney must have been aware of the ramifications of bad lip collagen, i.e. Trout Pout. But, I digress . . .

So, where was I? Oh yes! the Trippies - http://www.vegastripping.com/trippies2007/readers/best/overall/

Who has the best slot machines in Vegas? Survey says Main Street Station!

"The readers of VegasTripping have voted Main Street Station as having the best slots in Las Vegas. While Main Street has been known for having great excellent casino play overall for the past 5-10 years, in the last six months, they've dumped their full pay Video Poker, tinkered with some of the blackjack rules and ratcheted down on slot payouts. From a 'gaming business' perspective, it makes sense though. Main Street's owner, Boyd Gaming, needs to make up for some of the income lost from the closure of the Stardust. Hopefully when Echelon opens in 2010, Main Street will loosen up again. "

Well, okay -- that makes absolutely NO sense. They've tightened up, but they still have the best machines.

Now don't get me wrong, I like Main Street Station for many reasons -- beautiful authentic decor, great buffet, reasonable and redecorated rooms, but honestly, their slot selection, and slot club stink!

Let's see what the editors of the Trippies think - Who has the best slot machines?

They All Suck!

"Has anyone other than us noticed that the machines in Vegas are getting less and less playable by the month? Seriously, there used to be a time when you could throw a $20 in and play for a good hour before being broken. Nowadays... a $20 gets you 40 spins on a 2 credit machine and thats it. Sayonara and goodnight gracie. Boo on you Vegas."

Wow! They guys are pretty smart -- I couldn't agree more! They do indeed all suck. It's sad, but true.

Okay, on that note, let's see who has the worst slot machines in Vegas -- what do want to bet they all do!

Readers say -- Harrah's!

"The readers of VegasTripping have voted Harrah's as having the worst slots in all of Las Vegas. Statistically, the worst slots in Las Vegas are found at McCarran Airport, followed by local stores like 7-11 and then the casinos on the Strip. Harrah's (and, for the most part all other properties owned by Harrah's Entertainment) slots suck donkey balls. Yes... you will get decent comps. Eventually. But if you're going to Vegas hoping to have 'fun' burning through a hundred bucks at the slots here or there, you best stay away from Harrah's."

Hey, I'm beginning to think these readers aren't so crazy after all.

So what do the Editors think?

Jeez these editors are about as unpredictable as the readers -- instead of sticking with "they all do" they chose to make Carrot Top and Steve Wynn jokes --

Worst slot machine award goes to Treasure Island --

"With slots these tight, you might think you're putting quarters into Carrot Head's mouth. Y'know Steve Wynn's facelift is pretty bad too. Oh right, we're talking about tight slots... not tight slits! Well, TI-Treasure Island has the worst in the world... they're almost as bad as going to a Tribal casino. Not only that but the machines are old (still) the reels are faded from the lightbulbs inside and there is never an ashtray around when you need one."

Boy, I'm wore out and I've just covered one category.

Atlas Shrugged -- Then Ordered a Grand Slam Breakfast

2008-01-13T11:25:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know it sounds odd, but in Vegas where low brow meets high and everything in between is fair game, I feel compelled to comment on this story from the L.A. Times about an architectural gem (or lump of coal depending on your perspective) facing demolition -- a 1964 Denny's restaurant.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-dennys13jan13,1,4791364.story

Of course in Vegas, this would all be a mute point and that diner would be gone faster than french fries.

The funny (or not so if you're starring at the Hilton) part is that crack "I pass the building every day, and I think it's ugly and depressing," said Louie Richmond, spokesman for the Rhapsody Partners development company."But we understand art is very subjective. Some people think Barry Manilow is a great artist."

Ouch.

In Vegas, architecture is really just icing on the cake (or ketchup on the aforementioned fries) -- the cake of course being slot machines.

Sin City has destroyed some amazing buildings without batting an eye, in fact it is a sort of celebrated sport.

The Denny's reminds me of the ill-fated Kahiki restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. Even a designation on National Register of Historic Places didn't save this amazing building. The owner (who was rumored to have gambling debts) sold it for $1 million dollars and now a Walgreen's stands in it's place. We gave the old girl a great going away party, though -- http://www.tikinews.com/kahiki.html

The next day I flew to Las Vegas to stay the last night in the Desert Inn, another doomed institution. The mood at the DI was much more somber.

As for the Denny's in Seattle it has a good chance of survival simply because it is in artsy wacko liberal Seattle. From this article the locals seem inclined to keep a quirky piece of the past standing in face of modernization. How quaint.

Boyd and Coast Players' Clubs Finally Merge

2008-01-13T11:07:00.000-08:00

Thankfully, I'll be able to retire a few Slot cards from the ever growing pile in my wallet. Boyd and Coast Casinos merged years ago, and now their Players' Club is finally following suit.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/gaming/2008/jan/11/boyd-revamps-its-players-clubs/

I'm not too big on the tier levels, at my level of play I find it rather depressing, but I do welcome the fact that that my points from Coast will work downtown and vice versa.

Downtown Las Vegas is unique in the close proximity of casinos to each other. Two Boyd Casinos -- MainStreet Station and the Cal -- are even connected by a walkway. I can use the same card at both, but I can't carry my TITOs (slot ticket money balances) back and forth. That is definitely frustrating and something Boyd should look into.

They have the opportunity to break new ground with this aspect of slot playing. Shouldn't my money credit balance from one Boyd machine be good on another? It probably has something to do with tracking the take from each casino, but I'm sure they could easily code the transactions.

Slots May Not Be So Harmful To Your Health After All

2008-01-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

Well, I know I've certainly been a Debbie Downer when it comes to the effect slot machines can have on your health -- what with nasty germs, viruses, and other critters lurking on the surfaces to the danger of exploding oxygen tanks, not to mention second hand smoke, and the serious mood swings a date with Lady Luck can cause. . .

So let me pass on this stunning bit of good news from the Review Journal -- Heart attack sufferers' best odds may be in casinos! That's right folks, your odds of surviving a heart attack are twice as good in a casino, as -- brace yourself -- a HOSPITAL!!!

http://www.lvrj.com/business/13746737.html

Yep, none other than the New England Journal of Medicine has decreed that casinos (and airports) are safer than hospitals in the event of a heart attack. I found this link to the abstract
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/358/1/9 though I couldn't get access to the full report.

I tried to make some sort of twisted sense out of this odd fact; surely, there are likely to be more people around to help you quickly in a casino, but what about the delay the vast area of the resort and the surrounding traffic could cause the paramedics?

Apparently the report is relying on the use of defibrillators, and it seems we have Boyd Casinos to thank for their presence on the casino floors. And in more Boyd related news . . .

The Sun Also Rises -- A New Look for an Old Favorite

2008-01-11T20:38:00.000-08:00

I was in for a shock when I went to the Las Vegas Sun's website today bearing a whole new look a la the New York Times!

http://www.lasvegassun.com/about/launch/

If you've clicked on any of the links I've previously posted to the Las Vegas Sun you'll see just how rudimentary their website was, they wouldn't even add photos (kinda like me) -- merely a link to a photo (um, I guess they were one up on me).

But that's all changed now, everyone's favorite crazy opinionated newspaper that was independent and then started getting distributed inside their RIVAL'S paper, is getting rather aesthetically spiffy -- online anyway.

But just because they seemed to be literally swallowed by the Review Journal, doesn't really mean they were. Here is a link to the Wikipedia page about the history of the Sun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Vegas_Sun

The Sun was founded by Hank Greenspun, who was quite a controversial character with a long and storied past including mob ties, supplying munitions to Israeli guerillas, and a tie to Watergate. The family is also richer than shit, as Hank also dabbled in real estate eventually owning half of Henderson.

It still doesn't explain why you would allow your paper to be distributed inside your rivals -- that's just weird -- but I'm certain it has to do with money.

As I don't sully my lily white hands with newsprint, I suppose it doesn't matter much to me.

Online the Sun clearly looked like it was barely hanging on, which was strange considering the Greenspun Media Group appears to be a healthy publishing enterprise.

I'm sure I'll come to miss the visually simpler times.

More Sick Slots -- and Those Germs Rub Off!

2008-01-11T20:15:00.000-08:00

Well, I got sick again. Yesterday instead of blogging I was in bed with muscle aches, chills, and nausea. I didn't eat ANYTHING for over 36 hours, the only thing that went in my mouth were small sips of water.

I survived, and I feel better today -- but I can't help but blame the nasty bugs on slot machines.

I'm going to have to start using my Germstar regularly. Or, maybe get a Magic Gambling Wand!
http://www.singclean.com/magic_gambling_wand.htm

I learned about this amazingly low tech barrier to the nasty stuff lurking on the surface of slot machines through this blog http://www.gamblingpace.com/a-look-at-a-new-invention-for-casino-slot-machines-and-players/2007/11/07/

Trailer Station -- the Worst Casino in Las Vegas

2008-01-09T11:55:00.000-08:00

Station Casinos really outdid themselves this time.

To maintain an unrestricted gaming license on the empty lot that was once the Castaways, they opened for one day what has to be the worst casino in Vegas.

It wouldn't have been such a big deal if the New York Times hadn't decided to splash it all over their home page. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/us/09casino.html

Basically a run-down graffiti splattered construction trailer with a portapotty, wheelchair ramp, and what has to be 16 of the worst slot machines ever kept their license, but probably forever cemented their reputation as the consummate locals' casino -- even if the locals live in a cardboard box.

The King is Dead, Long Live the King!

2008-01-08T11:45:00.000-08:00

Today would have been Elvis' 73rd birthday.

In my daily scan of the online newspapers I added the Memphis Commercial Appeal to my list.
They didn't have much on the home page except a video of the other Elvis' -- two regular folk who just happened to be named Elvis as well. http://www.commercialappeal.com/videos/detail/being-elvis/

The Las Vegas Review Journal has a sort of interactive map of when Elvis Roamed Vegas -
http://www.lvrj.com/living/13522112.html, and Norm's column lists Elvis related Birthday celebrations, in a piece called "Las Vegas Lets Its Elvis Show" -
http://www.lvrj.com/news/13522192.html Norm mentions that Robert Sillerman's CKX is calling his proposed Las Vegas Elvis themed casino "Park Central" but after checking out a press release I believe that is what the property is currently called -- certainly an Elvis themed resort will have his name attached.

I began to wonder where Elvis' stillborn older twin brother Jesse was buried, and found the answer in this list of Elvis trivia -
http://oldies.about.com/od/elvispresleyhistory/a/elvistrivia.htm (an unmarked pauper's grave in Tupelo)

I also spent time perusing the trivia in general, and clicked on a link to an interview with the guy that produced Elvis' '68 Comeback Special.

So, the king lives on in our hearts and minds, and Elvis is still very much alive. If I run across an Elvis slot today, I'll have to wager in his memory, adding more value to his celebrity.

Giving Harrah's Online Slot Finder a Spin

2008-01-07T20:17:00.000-08:00

Okay, you might know that I officially hate Harrah's -- yep, I've stayed and played at their casinos in the past, but as a Vegas local they offer me, basically, zilch -- zip -- nada.

But just because I think their "Total Rewards" player's card is more like a total ripoff, I will still read the emails that they send me. It seems finally, they did process my email address and have decided I may be worth their while.

Unfortunately they sent me NO free buffets, and NO free play, but they did tell me all about the ATV I could earn with my points, granted I wager like a jillion dollars there, and alert me to their online "Slot Finder."

So what the heck, Harrah's slot selection sucks, but I figured I would use their handy dandy online search to prove it.

I tried it a couple of different ways, but finally thought . . . hmmm, I haven't been to Bally's or Paris Las Vegas for a while . . . I wonder what penny slots they have on the floor. As you can see by the results http://www.harrahs.com/SlotFinder.do not much.

The California Indian Slot Ads are Getting BIGGER!!!

2008-01-06T21:38:00.000-08:00

Jeez, I was perusing the L.A. Times again today, reading every tidbit I could about the Tiger attack in San Francisco (the Zoo director used to oversee the L.A. Zoo), and the Indian slot ads for Prop 94-97 are starting to take over my monitor.

I have no doubt Ahnold and the Injuns will win this one.

Let's face it, more slot machines means more money for the states, and with a $14 Billion dollar deficit to deal with, California will most likely approve this easily.

I wouldn't expect to win anything from the California slots, but if you want to spend a hundred or two to entertain yourself for a day who am I to protest?

The Indian Slot Campaign for more Machines in California Heats Up

2008-01-05T21:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I've always said the Native Americans are taking back the country -- $20 at a time, and the battle in California for more one-armed bandits is getting warmer.

I check out the New York Times, and the L.A. Times online everyday among other newspapers, and today an ad for Props 94-97 really jumped out at me.

I clicked on the link http://www.yesforcalifornia.com/ and the cold hard financial facts are sobering.

The Indian Tribes running casinos pay 25% taxes from slot machine revenue to the state of California -- 25% -- that's a helluva lot!!!

If 25% is coming right of the top, I can't imagine the odds on these machines could be sympathetic to the slot player.

New Slot Alert and Gold Nugget Expands Downtown

2008-01-04T13:36:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty much sticking to my New Year's resolution of only playing for free on free play credits and eating on the house whenever possible. I will make exceptions, however for new casinos (or new additions to casinos) and new slot machines.

Yesterday I stopped by the Rampart and blew through my $10 free play on IGT's "Wild Orchid" machine with no results, and was heading to the door when a new machine caught my eye.

IGT's "Star Power" is part of the Fort Knox progressive carousels, and features classic Movie Stars of the Fox Studios - Marilyn Monroe, Lauren Bacall, Bette Davis, and some dude (albeit good looking) I didn't quite recognize. Here is the link to the IGT website but it doesn't give too much information - http://www.igt.com/GamingGroup/Games/game_detail.asp?pid=5.113.120&type_id=5176

This game may not be all that new, but it is the first time I played it, and I had some success. It is a "Multiway" game meaning it pays like a scatter with the 243 ways to win, or lose depending on your luck. It features a bonus round of 15 free spins when you get three scattered star symbols. For each spin of your bonus you can win between 1x and 10x the line pays, a sliding bar meter at the top shows your multiplier.

I got down about $10 and was ready to walk away when I hit the bonus round. I got a retrigger with 3 more stars for a total of 30 spins which gave me about $15. Now I was $5 up, but intrigued not quite ready to leave. I then hit the Fort Knox Progressive round and won the first tier that was $15. Now I was up about $15, but played back about $5 before walking out the door with $10 more than when I walked in.

After running some errands, I found myself downtown playing my $15 free play at Binion's. I stuck with Bally's "Samurai Gold" and was able to cash out my winnings as I played and left that machine with $15 cash. I lost $5 in WMS' "Dukes of Hazzard" before leaving Binion's and sauntering across the street to check out the new addition at the Golden Nugget.

I had left my Golden Nugget player's card in my car so I decided not to play, but I did peruse the offerings. The new slot area on the West side of the building under "Gold Diggers" dance club and in front of what appears to be a Grand Ballroom seemed pleasant enough. http://www.goldennugget.com/ The decor is a sort of hip modern aesthetic that everyone seems to be remodeling toward in Vegas these days, but it is warm with lots of red, brown, and gold of course. There are hand blown quirky glass droplet light fixtures, lots of tile work and a Sushi bar in the back.

The slot selection is far to middlin' with some newer slots but nothing I just had to play. "Dukes of Hazzard" seems to be spreading far and wide to most of the downtown casinos, and Bally's "Golden Monkey" is against the back wall.

Here is a press release about a year old from Landry's (the restaurant company) that now owns the Golden Nugget --http://www.landrysrestaurants.com/pages/news_events/published_news/06chron_ltag.htm
-- it covers the expansion of the resort.

Landry's is owned by a Mr. Fertitta, and if that name sounds familiar it is because his cousins, also Fertittas, own Stations Casinos.

Golden Nugget's slot club hasn't offered me any freebies, so I probably won't be gambling much in there, but it is the nicest joint downtown, and I'm certain it will prosper.

California Tribes Fight for More Slots

2008-01-03T11:31:00.000-08:00

Well, like I've said time and time again, there is a world of gambling and slot machines out there, and California is fixin' to get more.

In the Review Journal article "California tribes clash over new slots -- Nevada game makers wait on February vote" http://www.lvrj.com/business/13001917.html the process is detailed.

Sure the public has to vote for more machines, and only a few tribes will benefit, but when you look at the tax dollars that they will generate, I predict the slots will win. They always do.

Las Vegas' Amazing Growth Spurt

2008-01-02T20:00:00.000-08:00

If you've been to Las Vegas lately you've seen a lot of change. Old favorites are gone, and new Casino/Resorts are starting to sprout.

It can be frightening, the power of the almighty dollar, and the speed with which it can destroy and create.

The Palazzo is the latest to open, well it's not really officially open yet -- but the games have no trouble taking your money, that is very real. Which reminds me, I didn't mention the chandeliers in my post yesterday. You can always judge a resort by it's chandeliers, and like much of the rest of Palazzo, they are just average. Although I was on the whole unimpressed with the Pal, the PR machines continue to grind out the gospel, and daily in the local press there is word of the Pal, Sheldon Adelson, or both.

This article from the Review Journal entitled "Gaming Outside of Nevada -- LV Casino Executive on a Roll" http://www.lvrj.com/business/12968532.html showcases Mr. Adelson's future and past. Yes, Sheldon is a powerful man, still I'm not frightened to say, his slot club stinks.

I'm looking over the rules of the club, and $1 coin-in on video reels equals 1 point. That's not so bad, but it says you have to cycle through $20 increments to earn points. If I earn $2,500 I get slot credits of $15, a gift card of $10, or $5 cash. Well, it's something anyway. The club folder says "Earn just 30,000 points in the current year and earn Gold status." I don't know about you but I don't have $30,000 to dedicate to the Pal's slots. How about I show up, and they give me a $10 food credit (I don't think the Venetian or the Pal has a buffet) and/or $10 free play?

Like I said in my earlier post, definitely walk through the Venetian to the Pal if you are playing slots, the selection in the new joint is superior -- but don't plan on any comps for your trouble.

Now, back to the growth spurt thing. So the Pal is pretty much open, and it appears Wynn's Encore is topping off and should be the next one ready. Then Hard Rock has an expansion that shouldn't take too long. I believe City Center will be next, followed by the Foutainebleau, Echelon, and then the Plaza Project. The last four are major projects indeed, with City Center touted as the largest private development ever. So the question is, can Vegas really support this growth -- if they build it, will they come?

The overwhelming answer is YES! Even as gambling becomes more readily available the world over, Vegas is the most traveled to city in the U.S. maybe the world. And of course the cold hard cash for all the glitz, glamour, and surge in development runs through (no, it's not the Baccarat tables) the SLOT MACHINES!

Certainly Sin City wasn't born of slot machines, but it has grown up on them. So next time you drop a $20 in a slot machine in Vegas, marvel at the majesty your money buys. It's your town, so enjoy it.

The La La Palazzo opens - Ho Hum.

2008-01-01T19:17:00.000-08:00

The Palazzo's sister property the Venetian is known as one of the swankiest joints in town. So one would expect the Palazzo to dazzle as well -- unfortunately, it dulls in comparison to other Vegas resort openings. Now mind you this is a SOFT opening, still nothing about it says "Behold the Palazzo, a Vegas MUST see!"

Of course, you have to consider that there really haven't been many recent openings (aside from the retheming of the Aladdin to the Planet Hollywood which didn't impress me either), and the Palazzo suffers from a sort of 'design in the crossroads identity crisis' from ultra themed fantasy resorts of the 1990s to ultra hip modernism of the 2000's. Okay, so it's 2008, and the modern aesthetic a la W hotels should be well entrenched, and even over by now. But, most of the hip hotels that laid the groundwork were remodeled from existing buildings, not built from the ground up, so a project like the Palazzo will always be prone to be dated as soon as it opens.

No matter though, because Sheldon Adelson is one of the richest men in America, and if he sees fit to tweak the aesthetics of the Palazzo, I'm sure it won't be a problem.

Sheldon (or any Sands corporate types) -- are you reading this? Listen up, dude -- I may be a lowly penny slot player that never graduated from Community College, and an armchair art critic at best -- but I know what I like. And since I took the trouble to visit the Pal (I think that is what I'll call it, like the California downtown is called the Cal) and write about it in detail, then you should take the trouble to read my critique.

I promise to get to the heart of the matter, the slot selection and players' card later, but first my general impressions of the Pal.

First, what exactly is a palazzo? I think it is Italian for "palace" and if in fact it is, then Mr. Adelson really missed the mark with his latest venture. I'm not saying the place isn't nice, it's pretty classy to a point, but the casino is rather mundane, certainly NOT befitting aristocracy, Italian or otherwise.

But before we get to the casino (unless you use the side entrance from the Wynn walkway over Spring Mountain like I did, or enter from the Venetian shops or restaurant row) you will enter the Grand Lobby. It's rather grand, with a large rotunda over a trio of Lalique-like frosty crystal frolicing female nudes. A sort of fountain effect and fake orchids add to the display. The floor is highlighted with rings of variegated marble, and there are some topiaries if memory serves. It's fairly impressive but not nearly as striking as most other reception areas in town.

The porte cochere is classy, but sort of standard issue as well, certainly nothing to write home about. The doormen are a nice touch but I doubt they will be there as a permanent fixture.

Now granted most of the shops (including the much touted Barney's) and restaurants aren't open yet, but Jay Z's 40/40 lounge is. To get there you go downstairs from the Grand Lobby. Right now it looks pretty lonely down there, and again I was underwhelmed, though to be fair, I didn't stick my head in the door of Jay Z's joint.

So I headed back upstairs to the casino, making mental notes of the use of Greek keys (square) and scrolls (round) as design elements. Oh, and lots of fake orchids, quasi gold washed slightly Asian looking paintings, and boring cone shaped topiaries.

Back through the lobby to the casino -- did I mention it is boring? The ceiling are not too low, and not too high, it is not too dark, or not too bright, there is little decoration to distract -- all in all, very functional, almost clinical for a casino. The major design element is again Lalique style crystal canopies, sort of art deco, very subtle -- with matching flora wall lighting. And when I say subtle, I mean subtle, I doubt anyone without a decorative arts background would pick up on these themes.

On the far end of the casino, just to mix things up a bit is a lounge with zebra print columns. It looks straight out of the scene in the movie "Casino" when Ace and Tony find themselves at different tables to the tune of Devo's version of "I Can't Get No Satisfaction."

No Grand Tour would be complete without a trip to the restrooms. This is where I really just had to say 'what were they thinking?' If the rest of the place lacks an overt theme, it was as if they would make up for it in the most intimate of rooms, the john. The ladies' restrooms sported metallic toile wall paper, inlaid marble floors, rococo wall sconces, and I kid you not -- speckled gold mirrors. It was one of the TACKIEST rooms I've tinkled in in Vegas, and I kinda liked it. It was so ridiculous, and would have fit into any era of Sin City excess (except of course ultra-hip modern.) If the casino is practical, then the loo is eccentric, and I might add slightly annoying. No woman wants to gaze at her image all speckled in zits, gold or otherwise. I was amused in the loo though, which was a nice respite until the real work began.

So, cue the menacing minor key music (dum, dum, dum!) -- it was time to gamble. I circled the casino floor (like a caged cat -- only kidding, more like a degenerate gambler) sizing up the opportunities. There were more penny machines than the Venetian, with a better mix of WMS games, but nothing I hadn't seen or played before.

I found the player's club (sort of under the escalators in the back) and got a new card. The club is the same as the Venetian's and I was rather dismayed to find that they DID in fact have my local address. I haven't received ANY offers from them, but I wasn't so surprised, certainly they don't target the locals.

I chose WMS' "Treasure Diver" part of their highly volatile line, and quickly hit a bonus round. I didn't win big, but I was up $5 and moved on to "Crazy Diamond -- Hot Hot Jackpot." My patience was truly tried here, as the woman sitting next to me hit three bonus rounds and got up $50 before I hit one. Finally, I got my chance, and was able to leave sort of even. I headed over to a carousel of Bally machines and played "Ms. Clara T" -- unable to hit the Tarot card bonus (I have never got it) and leaving down $10. I did get a drink in the process though, a tasty Bloody Mary (not too spicy) and observed that the cocktail waitresses were fairly efficient, even if their outfits were sort of brocade mini skirt and corset-y silly.

I moved over to "Treasures of the Nile" a pretty simplistic Bally's game and lost a little there as well. I think I was down about $20 at this point and ready to throw in the towel, when WMS' "Gusher" caught my eye. This is part of their G+ volatile series, but I was lucky enough to hit a bonus round early on. In the bonus you get 7 spins with expanding, locking wilds, and I got three in the middle with 3 spins to go. I walked away with $50.

Judging simply from my slot play, the Pal was not so bad. I left ahead after about an hour and a half of play and I got a decent drink to boot. I don't expect any sort of comps, but if I find myself on the Strip, I certainly wouldn't shy away from whiling away some time in there.

To sum it up, save your Sin City Strip photo ops for splashier sights, but the Pal is definitely worth the walk over from the Venetian for a better selection of slots.

PS -- I slept in too late to see the Palazzo's float in the Rose Parade, but my guess is if your rolling stock (and temporary at that) is more interesting than your bricks and mortar, you got to return to the drawing table and up the ante. Oh, and Diana Ross to kick off your official opening?! -- I love her don't get me wrong, but uh . . . she's lost a step or two in the vocal department, and she is not exactly top drawer entertainment anymore.

http://www.palazzolasvegas.com/

Vegas Rings in the New Year in Grand Style

2008-01-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

I was somewhat torn as to how to celebrate New Year's in Las Vegas yesterday.

I've done the strip thing twice. For the Millenium I stayed at the Excalibur, and it was fun, but I was let down by the lack of fireworks.

A few years ago I stayed at Imperial Palace. That was fun too, and there were fireworks, but I was almost crushed by the crowd on the Strip.

The Strip is definitely a commitment. The streets begin to close down around 5pm, so if you are driving, that means at least 7 hours in the casinos, which can get pretty expensive. The streets don't open again until around 4am, so unless you can strategically place yourself in a parking lot on the outer fringes, you're trapped.

It is cold on New Year's so there is that to consider as well. And yes, it is a crazy party scene, with many drunk and disorderlies -- it can be scary at times.

Maybe someday I'll be VIP enough to spend New Year's in one of the Ultra Lounges in the presence of some inane celebrity like Paris Hilton or Pam Anderson. I'm not hip to this scene, though it shows no signs of letting up . . .

I heard that the fireworks display would be pretty good, 8 minutes long with new types of explosions. My neighborhood has some pretty good strip views, so I decided to stay home and venture outside around 11:50 (after a test shot, and confirmation that the winds had died down sufficiently to allow the fireworks) to gaze strip-ward.

I drank some cheap champagne, and stuck to my plan.

Seven different casinos took part in the fireworks display, and each were syncronized with each other -- the exact same show off each roof, with the exception of the Stratosphere whose architectural structure is unique and geared towards stuff shooting out from it, instead of up from it.

It was quite a show, really good -- I might want to venture closer to the mayhem next year.

Downtown Las Vegas had it's party under the canopy as well with the Doobie Brothers and the Bangles playing. The world's happiest mayor, Oscar Goodman was there, of course with his showgirls in tow. Binion's was offering a pretty good deal for $75 - dinner, free drinks, comedy show and tickets to the Fremont party. I'm not sure how they make sure only ticketed revelers enter the party -- the casinos open directly onto the street, you could probably have a pretty good time without buying tickets.

All in all, Vegas steps it up again to compete for the best place to be on New Year's Eve.

Another Promotions Disaster at Red Rock, and the Natives Are Getting Restless

2008-01-01T13:06:00.000-08:00

As 2007 wound down, I did what I've been doing much of the year -- getting suckered in by stupid promotional give-aways at Red Rock Casino.

Saturday the "free" gift was a blanket in a bag. It sure does get cold in Las Vegas in the winter, much colder than the Los Angeles area, down to the thirties at night and hovering in the fifties (if we're lucky) during the day. I've been trying to keep my energy bills down, and that blanket sure could come in handy. I could always give it to a homeless person, that would be nice too.

So there I was, Saturday evening in line at Red Rock to get my blanket. I saw people walking the opposite direction with the crappiest of all crappy give-aways, the dreaded logo drawstring bag. My fellow suckers in line were as pissed off as I was. Yep, they had run out of the blankets, and were adding insult to injury.

Now granted, it was as crowded as I had ever seen in the casino, but that was no excuse. In fact, I didn't even see anyone with a blanket in a bag, so they must have run out really early, or perhaps never had any to begin with! It wouldn't be the first time that happened. Earlier in the week they hadn't received the wine cooler bags that went with the free wine. There was plenty of whining in line, and I started to feel sorry for the women standing at the desk, doling out drawstring bags, and listening to the complaints -- after all, they just WORK here.

As the natives became restless, one of the women running the counter offered me the name of her boss. I thanked her, and hung around until she could fish her boss' business card out and give me her email address. That eased my tension, knowing I could fire off my feelings to someone who might actually have some power in the promotions department.

I have yet to compose my email, and am wondering if I should cc one of the board of directors.
I seriously doubt whatever I have to say with have any weight, as Stations Casinos is obviously very successful in fleecing the locals market.

As the New Year begins my slot play with be limited to free play and a free buffet. Until the new casinos open, and the new machines hit the floor, there is really no reason to throw my money away.

I was able to live my dream of frequent slot play in 2007, but alas, it finally turned into a nightmare.

New Year's Resolutions

2007-12-29T13:46:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year, and normally I don't make resolutions, save for 'eat more vegetables.' And, despite what they believe in the South, Macaroni and Cheese is NOT a vegetable.

But 2007 was a doozy for me -- a time of great change, and great loss. And yes, I mean slot losses.

So, I will resolve to eat more vegetables, and play less.

Thankfully, I can get my veggies free at the buffet, but of course that means walking into a casino.

It won't be easy. Nary a day goes by that I don't play the slots. It's become a habit, but rules and habits were made to be broken. As my habit has left me broke, it's time to turn the tables.

Of course I have three more days to indulge.

The Final Indignity -- Another F*cked up Bud

2007-12-29T13:03:00.000-08:00

Someone up there is trying to send me a message. Last night, yet AGAIN, a cocktail waitress at Red Rock refused to serve me a Bud, a Budweiser beer, the most common and simplest of all Beverage choices.

To make matters worse, I was dying for a drink. Here's how it all went down. I visited the Bellagio to take in the Conservatory, which was sort of a disappointment, as it seemed sort of slapped together from former Holiday installations. I lost a few bucks playing some Bally games I hadn't seen before, I believe one was called "Cashin' In" and the other had a Scottish theme. I never got a drink, but the night was young.

Then I headed down the strip -- the Frontier is nearly gone, with only the front tower (about 6 stories) and the sign still standing. It is weird to see the vast expanse of darkness where the Frontier and the Stardust once stood, though cranes are now rising from the Stardust property.

I went to Circus Circus to play the WMS "King Midas" machine. I tried to stay calm in the sea of families and children, and was proud of myself for maintaining my composure. I got ahead on King Midas, but then foolishly put my winnings back and lost $40 more. I played for about an hour and never got a drink.

Next stop was Binion's to play my free play. I again tried a Bally's game "Samurai Something or Other" -- it's not really called that, but you get the picture. I was proud to leave with $15 in hand, but still no drink. I walked over to the California where I parked, but decided to check out one of my favorite casinos for it's buffet and decor -- Main Street Station. Unfortunately, no new games over there, still I put $5 in a "Hot Hot Jackpot" and left again, stone cold sober.

So I made the long drive up Alta to Red Rock Casino as the Jumbo Jackpot was in the $147,000 range and at the very least a free cheeseburger awaited me there. I sat down at WMS' "Pay Dirt" machine and was down $15 before I finally flagged down a waitress. I smiled sweetly, gave her my order, and even watched her write it down. At this point I was dying of thirst and hungry to boot.

The waitress finally returned with a very full tray and walked right by me. After she served a couple across from me, I got her attention (of course I had my tip ready and in full view) and asked for my Budweiser. She looked at her tray, said "Nope, No Buds, only Bud Lights -- sorry I'll bring it next time." I should have killed her right then and there. I certainly felt like it.

It's a conspiracy, plain and simple . . . I'm not sure if it includes the cocktail waitresses (or perhaps they are just as dumb as they look), the bartenders, Red Rock management, Stations Casinos and God, but truly, truly I am being targetted.

I got up controlling my anger and headed into the cafe for a cheeseburger and a Budweiser, I had to pay for the beer, but at least the meal was free.

As soon as I left, of course, the Jumbo Jackpot hit.

From now on, I'm ordering Champagne.

No FIRM Soft Opening for Palazzo, Crikey!

2007-12-28T12:15:00.000-08:00

The Review-Journal chimed in on the delays for the opening of Palazzo today http://www.lvrj.com/business/12880122.html -- apparently the management won't commit to a firm soft opening date. I got a kick out of that. Jay Z's 40/40 club is slated to open Sunday night, December 30th though.

I feel a trip to the strip coming on. Many folks who live in Las Vegas NEVER go to the strip, and they are proud of it. Not me, at least not yet. Granted I don't play much there, not so much because I'm unlucky, I'm unlucky everywhere, it's more on principal of the comps, or lack thereof. Like DeNiro as Lefty Rosenthal says in the movie "Casino" -- That's the truth about Las Vegas, it's all designed to get your money, the players don't stand a chance.

So I'll check out the conservatory at the Bellagio, cruise by to see the wreckage that once was the New Frontier, and stop by Circus Circus to play the one slot machine I like -- King Midas.
"King Midas" is an older WMS machine in the "Treasure Tales" Series. It has quite a few bonus rounds, and special features -- I've played this particular machine at Circus Circus (the ONLY machine I have found in Las Vegas) three times now and I haven't lost yet.

I'll probably head downtown to play my $15 free play at Binion's -- and if the mood strikes swing by Red Rock for a free burger.

Well, if I'm going to do all that, I best be going. One thing though, is sticking in my craw -- those damn "Lightning Box" games by IGT.

My google search for Lightning Box Slot Machines turned up nothing, but my Super Happy Fortune Cat was useful. Here is a link to a journal that describes the experience of watching someone else play the machines - http://6-bleen-7.livejournal.com/61974.html It's a long entry, so if you don't want the complete rundown of this person's Vegas trip scroll down to the Fortune Cat logo. They include a link to the IGT site http://www.igt.com/GamingGroup/Games/game_detail.asp?toggle=ovr&pid=5&type_id=5090&pl=&bhfv=2&bhqs=1 -- I should have know from the "Crikey!" that these games were made in Australia -- perhaps James Packer has something to do with it.

Sometimes I forget that there is a world of slot machines and casinos out there. Something designed for a particular market might filter into another. I've never been to Macau or down under, or South Africa, or Dubai (do they gamble in Dubai?) but it holds true that fools are abundant the world over.

This fool is just trying to live a little before she dies, which leads me to the subject of New Years' Eve . . . perhaps I'll address that tomorrow.

Just When the Heck Will the Palazzo Open?

2007-12-27T13:03:00.000-08:00

The Palazzo is a much bally-hooed addition to the Venetian that is slated to open very soon. Well, actually from earlier reports it should already be open. But that's the "soft opening" mind you, which could have been December 20th, or December 28th, but now it is anyone's guess between now and the official opening of January 17th.

At one point, the website was taking room reservations beginning December 28th which would have been nice for New Years' Eve revelers. Apparently those reservations were shifted to the Venetian, as the workers still labor on the Palazzo.

I went by the joint from December 5th - 16th as I took in the NFR Rodeo and it's Country Christmas retail trade show at the Sands' convention facility. I could have told you then there was no way the doors would open before January 1st.

There is something exciting though, about seeing the final touches applied to yet another overblown temple to greed.

In fact now, this slot jockey is rather chomping at the bit to see the interior, and if it has anything to offer me. It's sister property the Venetian has a simply awful slot selection, and there is little chance of winning anything there, or even breaking even. I have no trouble walking right through the casino to get to my destination.

The Palazzo will feature a float in this year's Rose Parade, and that is a first for a Vegas casino. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=185629&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1087295&highlight

It would be nice if it would enter a float in Las Vegas' wild and woolly Helldorado parade, a tradition that all the casinos have abandoned. In days of yore, Vegas casinos would compete for bragging rights, and dazzle the crowds with their creations. Just check out all the slides the UNLV research library has of the floats (sorry, they don't link to the actual pictures). http://www.library.unlv.edu/speccol/photographs/0106_griffith.html Here is a link to the info about Helldorado Days from the Elks website. http://www.elkshelldorado.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=15&Itemid=36 Unfortunately, I doubt Helldorado Days and the parade will ever return to it's glory days, it was cancelled in the late 1990's until brought back for the Las Vegas Centennial in 2005.

I'll give you the latest on the Palazzo when I get it, and will check it out at first opportunity. My expectations are low, but you never know . . .

Christmas at the Casino, or More Reasons to Hate Red Rock

2007-12-25T14:48:00.000-08:00

I was sucked in by yet another deceptive Red Rock Casino marketing ploy today, and ended up stomping out of the casino again. Merry F*cking Christmas.

It looked to me from the mailer that I would receive free play today, but alas as is most of the Stations Casino promotions -- they are hardly ever what they seem.

So I had no free play, and the first machine I tried had sticky buttons, on the verge of malfunctioning. A couple of lumps were sitting at the machines I wanted to play, they weren't playing them mind you, just resting their bones, and they never left for the duration of my stay.

I tried some really crappy *new* IGT machines, and they were awful. IGT machines are getting worse and worse, and I can't win on them to save my life. I played "Super Happy Fortune Cat" and "Radar Riches" -- both machines are a venture between IGT and a company named "Lightning Box" presumably from Japan judging by the moronic messages that pop up when you have scored. Stuff like "Laughing Duck" ???!!! and "Crikey" and "Howzat" signify a win. I have no idea who they are designing these machines for, but they certainly insult my intelligence.

So I keep losing, and to top it off I can't get a drink. When I finally do flag down a cocktail waitress, she takes forever to return and then get this -- she says "Budweiser?" and hands me a COORS LIGHT! I say "No, I said Budweiser" and hand the offending beer back to her. Naturally, she doesn't have a Budweiser, or even a friggin' Bud Light on her tray. She says "Oh, I couldn't get that" in her thick Russian-like accent, like the bar guy wasn't handing out Anheiser- Busch products today. She says she will return with it, and I say forget it, I'm leaving. That after losing more than $50 in a stupid IGT "Wolf Run" machine waiting for my drink.

Come the New Year, I may not be gambling at all -- or if I do it will be strictly on free play. That is how bad my luck, and my treatment at most casinos in town has been.

Harrah's Finally Private, Who Cares?

2007-12-25T12:21:00.000-08:00

So the big news is Harrah's has finally gone private, the deal getting it's last approvals. Now they are free to rape and pillage their customers and the Vegas Strip without the prying eyes of the New York stock exchange.

But really, what's new and who cares? In a Las Vegas Sun article entitled "Harrah's can chase high rollers or stay mid market -- Executives face tough choice but have new owners' backing" Liz Benston gives us the rundown. http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/consumer/2007/dec/24/566617989.html

It is a well written story about a company in transition, with plenty of background on the Private Equity firms that are now holding the reins. I read the whole darn thing, and suggest you do the same. Then we can all put our two cents in on what Harrah's will do. Of course, they're private now, so they don't have to tell us. It's any body's guess.

One thing that seems fairly concrete is the expansion to Caesars Palace, the most overly expanded casino resort in history. I miss the days when you could see four decades of design in the properties many different facades. Now it is a fairly congruous 1990's Roman theme light. The funny thing is, if they had just kept part of the 1960's modern grating they'd fit right in with Vegas' modern cum slightly mid century retro design craze going on right now. But that's always the way, just when you destroy it, it comes right back in spades.

What does all this mean for the slot jockey? Personally I stopped playing at Harrah's as soon as I became a local. The slot selection is poor, the machines are tight, and the comps tighter. However when I travelled to Vegas I was known to stay at Harrah's properties when the price was right. I fit into the mid-level market scenario and even stayed at Caesars once on a December deal, doing my Christmas shopping in the Forum shops.

I really don't give a rat's ass if Harrah's revamps their East Strip properties or not. They've stripped Imperial Palace of it's Slot Club, and I'm pretty pissed off about it. They can do as they please, but it won't be on my nickel. I'm through with Harrah's. There you have it Gary Loveman -- put that in your privatized pipe and smoke it.

Red Rock's Ham Scam

2007-12-25T12:20:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, Red Rock Casino had a Hormel Spiral Ham giveaway. This proved to be another heartwrenching exercise in futility for me, not as disappointing as the disastrous Robe giveaway, but frustrating as hell none the less.

The rules seemed simple -- earn 1,000 points and pick up a ham. I learned from the Robe debacle to start the process early, lest they run out of hams the second I earn my 1,000th point.

When I entered the casino around 3:00p.m. and sat down at my first slot machine, I made a note of my points. I had 17, 472 to be exact. When the counter on the slot machine reached 18,472 I could run over to the redemption desk and grab my ham.

A few hours later I had 18,630 points. I'm not sure how I ran over, I must have been sucked in by the "Love Boat's" spell.

I hurried over to the ham desk and was delighted to see many hams waiting. Finally, the coveted Christmas pork would be mine!

I handed the attendant my card to swipe, and she told me with a look of derision that I hadn't earned enough points. I couldn't believe it. I told her I most certainly HAD earned 1,000 points, and what was the deal? She gave me the standard 'I just work here and I hate it look', swiped my card again and said I had only earned 386 points.

I was crushed, and angry. Much like the horrible day Red Rock ran out of robes, I marched over to the slot club booth for an explanation.

I got the same closed response there -- by their accounts I had only earned 386 points, and no explanation as to why the slot machines showed I had earned over 1,000 was given. I asked if multipliers could factor into the discrepancy and got no answer there as well. The guy simply handed me back my card with the same 'I just work here and hate it look', mixed with a little 'you can't fight city hall or Stations Casinos.' I said 'I am so done with this place' and stomped out.

I don't even like ham.

The moral of the story is -- besides God and Stations Casinos hate me -- never, ever play for a point based "freebie". It's all rigged against you, and as usual the house always wins.

Slot Machine Hygiene -- Cold and Flu Season Hits the Casino

2007-12-22T14:45:00.001-08:00

Well, I didn't get a flu shot this year . . . and I've picked up my first virus of the season. It's not so bad, really . . . just a sore throat resulting in a whiskey tenor. Do I think I picked it up from a slot machine? Absolutely.

You see, casinos are a veritable hot bed of infection. Certainly you've heard the stories of the germs lurking in hotel rooms, and the nasty Norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships. I bet you've even been grossed out at the Buffet, especially on king crab night, watching people lick their gluttonous chops and fingers and then return again and again to handle the serving tools. How often do you ponder the cleanliness of your slot machine? If you're like me, often.

I'm a pretty consistent hand washer to begin with, not compulsive, but thorough. I probably wash my hands five to ten times a day, depending on what I'm doing, and where I've been. Granted I'm not phobic like Howard Hughes, just cautious.

In the summer I developed a mysterious rash in the webs of my fingers, and palms of my hands. It was barely noticeable, but present none the same, and I had no idea what it could be. One evening I was watching the news, and a short story grabbed my attention. An outbreak of SCABIES http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scabies was being linked to more International travelers in casinos, and the popularity of slot machines! I never found an internet link to this story, but as I live alone with little or no contact with other people, I believed my slot habit to be the culprit.

I began to really ponder slot machine hygiene, and began to look for way to disinfect the surfaces I touched so frequently.

I thought about the towelettes that used to be so prevelant when slot machines coughed out real coins. They could be found here and there, and I found the company that makes them online. Mostly now, you will find the generic looking "Winners" towelettes made by Sanfacon Mills -- http://www.sanfacon-mills.com/pages-interieures/moist-towelette.html but back in the day every casino had customized designs. It's not really clear what is in the towelette to combat germs, although some appear to have alcohol as an ingredient.

I waited for the Global Gaming Expo to find a suitable product, and I wasn't disappointed. A company named Germstar http://www.germstar.com/us/ appears to have a system that would work well on the casino floor. The representative told me that mostly they are being used in the back of the house and are finding their way into the dealer pits, but casinos have been reluctant to make them available to the players. The active ingredient is rubbing alcohol, and I was given a couple of sample bottles of the citrus scented spray.

I began to look around casinos in Vegas and did spot a few of the units in place in the pits. I also found a couple in the Women's bathroom in the Star Trek casino at the Hilton.

I must admit, I have not been carrying around my spray bottle in my purse, falling on my old habits. I suppose I feel my hand washing is enough, after all, I do visit the restrooms at least once or twice in a slot session and wash up thoroughly there.

I do wonder how effective the folks that clean the slots are, with their rags and such. Do they wipe down the slots with a different rag than the area between them? Are they really just spreading more germs around? I've never really watched the process close enough to guess.

The good news is my scabies cleared up, and in time my cold will too. But if you ever meet me, and refrain from shaking my hand, I completely understand.

Bally Reverses Losses for Shareholders, Players Still Lose

2007-12-22T13:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the Review Journal ran a story entitled "Bally Technology Reverses Quarterly Losses" -- apparently Bally is selling slot machines and making up with their shareholders.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/12706182.html

"The company credited increased game sales for the quarterly earnings jump. Bally sold 5,151 games in the quarter, compared with 3,427 slot machines in the same period a year ago. Those games also came with a higher average price; $13,275 per game compared with $12,011 last year. "We are very pleased with our continued improvement in both business momentum and margins in all the key parts of our business," Bally Chief Executive Officer Richard Haddrill said."

I've never been a fan of Bally slot machines, but they are on the floor, and I have played them.
Here is a link to their website http://ballytech.com/

My favorite part of the Bally's booth at G2E were the bright shiny red shopping bags they were giving away. I showed little interest in their slot machines, and couldn't even tell you about their new offerings.

Their old offerings I know plenty about. I was sucked into the S&W Green Stamp machines http://ballytech.com/gameroom/game.cfm?id=1178 but could never come out ahead with them. I've played "Hot Shot", and even tried "Golden Monkey", in fact I've probably tried all their games at one point or another.

One thing I will say I like about the Bally games is their large screens -- perfect for an aging slot jockey whose eyesight isn't what it used to be.

I did learn something new from the Bally's website, and that is that they appear to rule the gaming market in Washington state, and many IGT and WMS machines appear in that repetouire that they control.

Of course, I can't really speak of Bally's without delving into their long and storied past - here is the Wikipedia entry that covers that - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bally

So, it would make sense that Bally's would rebound, as they have plenty of times before. Unfortunately, as a slot jockey, I have not been so lucky on their machines. To make matters worse, I find their machines simplistic and rather boring.

For a slot machine pioneer such as Bally's trailing the pack won't keep a large number of their machines on the floor, and I predict their stock to be (to borrow the industry term) "volatile".

Slot Jockey Etiquette

2007-12-20T14:43:00.000-08:00

I'm constantly amazed by the manners and lack thereof of my fellow slotplayers.

I understand that casinos are stressful environments and players last nerves are continually being worked.

Still, they are public places, and a code of behavior should be observed.

Last night I encountered all sorts of slot players' dos and don'ts --

DO -- Ask politely if a machine is being played before sitting down between two people, especially if they are having a conversation.

DON'T -- Play two machines, and become indignant if someone tries to sit down at one of them.

DO -- Adjust the volume on your machine at a comfortable level if someone is sitting next to you.

DON'T -- Sit right down next to someone who is not smoking, and light up like you own the joint, before asking politely if they mind if you smoke.

DO -- Decline from smoking, or move to another area if they are bothered -- they were there first.

DO -- Try to have change ($1 bills) for your cocktail waitress, and have the tip ready when she returns.

DON'T -- Swear out loud and bang on your machine, unless you are in an uncrowded area, or you have cleared your behavior with your neighbors. Most slot players understand the frustration factor and will overlook your outbursts, but keep the mood as light as possible.

DON'T -- Ask your neighbor to "watch" your machine for you while you take a bathroom or ATM break. They may want to leave their machine while you are away.

DO -- If you need to leave but want to reserve your machine, ticket out your balance, and tip your chair onto the machine -- the slot player's universal code for "I'll be back."

I'll add to this list as the need arises, but for now, remember to mind your manners.

The Advent of Video Gaming Style Slots

2007-12-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

The Las Vegas Sun had an interesting article today entitled "Slots for a new generation --
Video-game enthusiasts seen as customers for slots that ultimately might reward skillful play."
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/consumer/2007/dec/16/566674539.html

As I've become increasingly bored with the slots on the casino floors, I welcome any progression toward "fully-interactive" games.

I've played Bally's "Pong" game, and it is as primitive as it's namesake. The skill-based feature bonus round only awards an extra 15 (or maybe 25 -- I can't quite remember) credits for winning the ping-pong game with the slot machine. The Atari logo random bonus, with mystery wilds, pays much better. Even though this machine hasn't held my attention, or that of the slot going public (judging from the empty seats), it is a step in the right direction. I even think the Atari Pong concept/theme was a wise choice to broach the bridge between video games and video slots.

I am eagerly awaiting Williams' Clint Eastwood "Dirty Harry" machines, with their video game- style wild ride through the streets of San Francisco. I was happy the FedEx guy left WMS' latest catalog on my doorstep yesterday, but was disappointed to see that the "Dirty Harry" machines were not listed. I got the impression at the Global Gaming Expo that these machines were part of the "Sensory Immersion" line and would soon join "Top Gun" and the "Wizard of Oz" on the floor.

The WMS catalog did give me hope that "Money Burst", "Rotating Wild" and "Spinning Streak" games may be available, and headed to a casino near me. As I've mentioned before I'm about played out on the current crop of machines, and can't wait for new ways to lose (um, I mean wager) my money.

My guess is that skill-based gaming of the future won't be any more skill-based than say, video poker. Casinos are masters at cashing in on the gap between perception and reality, and the slot machines will always reflect that. In short, you may think you have a chance to win, but you are really just paying dearly for the dream.

Guaranteed Play Not Catching On, but Still Being Crammed Down Our Throats

2007-12-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I read an article in the Las Vegas Review Journal about the "Guaranteed Play" machines not performing as expected, due to the slot playing public being leery of the whole concept.

For the life of me, today I can't find a link to the article -- perhaps it has been removed from the website -- but trust me, it was there, and I'm not just writing this as a "I told you so!" moment.

The article did say that IGT and Stations Casinos were not giving up on the machines, and would boldly press forward with the concept. They compared it to the TITO (ticket in, ticket out) technology which was slow to be trusted. I find this comparison highly amusing, as slot players warmed to the TITO machines as soon as they realized they didn't have to tote heavy buckets of coins around -- for me that took about two minutes.

In a related issue http://www.dieiscast.com/2007/12/06/new-slot-scam-and-a-whacky-estimate-of-casino-theft/ Doc Schwartz over at dieiscast.com reports on a crew of wiley insiders who figured a way to rip-off their employers through a ticket slot scheme. It seems fairly sophisticated and lucrative, and I have to applaud the skimmers ingenuity. Schwartz goes on to question the stated figure of casinos' skim loss of 6% -- it does seem extremely high in the light that corporate gaming nickel and dimes every aspect of their industry.

At any rate, "Guaranteed Play" is no TITO, and IGT and Stations is fooling themselves if they think they can cram an unpopular slot concept down a slot jockey's throat. They can lead our horses to water, but they can't make us drink.

Cannery Casinos Bought by Aussie Whale James Packer

2007-12-12T14:31:00.000-08:00

This news came out of nowhere -- Cannery Casinos is being purchased by notorious Australian whale and Casino Operator James (son of late Kerry) Packer. Another American Casino lost to a damn foreigner. There I said it. This really stinks, but apparently Packer's money doesn't.
http://www.lvrj.com/business/12410526.html

Sure Packer has long had his sights on Vegas, and American gaming -- he is buying into the Crown project, and working on the Fountainebleau -- but the Cannery deal is a shocker to me.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22916178-2702,00.html

So us lowly locals see another Casino swallowed by a foreign corporation.

I've already stopped playing at the Rampart, run by Cannery -- I couldn't win or break even there to save my life, their slot selection sucks, and they quit sending me my free play and buffet. The namesake Cannery Casino is larger and more loser friendly with their promotions, but their location in North Vegas makes it too far for me to travel for 5X play.

This week I've found my playing options severely limited, what with the Imperial Palace finally being swallowed by Harrah's and now this news of Cannery Casinos being bought by Packer putting the final nail in their coffin.

It is becoming harder and harder for me to play everyday. It seems I've hit that point, where the corporate casinos have finally killed the golden goose. This slot jockey may have to hang up my silver spurs, and watch a movie tonight.

A Sad Day Indeed - IP Changes to Harrah's Total Rewards

2007-12-12T14:13:00.000-08:00

I used to love Imperial Palace on the Strip in Las Vegas. When I was living out of state, they used to send me the most incredible deals -- cheap rooms, plus a fun book that had two free buffets, and four free drinks, along with match play, tournament play, freebies to the IP Car Collection, and drawing tickets.

Sure the hotel was old, with a layout so convoluted that I still hadn't quite figured it out after staying there probably 20 times, the elevators were slow, and the beds had no blankets -- but the comps were generous, the food was edible, and most importantly, the slots were relatively loose for the Strip.

And of course, you couldn't beat the location, right across from Caesars and within walking distance of 80% of the major resort casinos in Las Vegas.

Imperial Palace was a budget minded gambler's dream. But alas, all good things must come to an end, and for me, yesterday it did. I was on the strip with an hour to kill before rush hour calmed down, and decided to check in with my old friend.

I sat down at a machine as a waitress was walking by and ordered a beer. The machine would not take my player's card, and kept saying "Reinsert Card." I reinserted my card over and over, but to no avail. I tried another machine, and another with no luck. The waitress walked right by me with my beer, and I became increasingly frustrated. I had about $4 in comps from previous play, which could have gotten me a slice of pizza or a burger upstairs, but I knew something was terribly wrong, and I would have to visit the player's club. I grabbed my stray beer at the bar, and headed on over to the desk. That's when the bad news hit me like a ton of bricks -- I was told the IP cards were obsolete, and had been switched over to Harrah's Total Rewards.

I knew this day was coming eventually, as Harrah's has owned Imperial Palace for about a year, but I had missed the memo. I was told the switch occurred about a week ago. I was crushed -- I absolutely hate Harrah's Total Rewards, which should be called Harrah's Total Ripoff.

An Icon Gone but Not Forgotten, Evel Knievel and his Slots

2007-12-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

The guy who never said die, finally did.

If you looked up Icon in the dictionary you might see a picture of Evel. I'm reminded of the "What Becomes a Legend Most?" ad campaigns for Blackglama mink from the 1970's. I don't think Mr. Knievel ever draped ranch raised dead animal skins over his red white and blue leather get-up, but it would have made perfect sense. Evel was certainly a legend, in fact the English language could use a few more words to pin on the daredevil. He was completely original, and certainly invented himself. In a time when the U.S.A. was taking a beating, Evel came back time and time again after knocking on death's door. He was a hero, a flesh, blood, and bone man who refused to give up.

I once stood for hours in the cold of a downtown Vegas winter night to get Evel's autograph. It was only a few years ago, and they were taping the promos for "American Gladiators" if I remember correctly. I'm not one to be starstruck or collect autographs, but Evel was special.

He had his own slot machine, and it that doesn't make you an icon, well I don't know what does.

Here are few links you might enjoy. I haven't been able to find any Evel slots to play this week, but if I do, I'll slip in a $20 and revel in the voice of an American Master.

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/08/05/Features/Daredevil_Evel_Knieve.shtml

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/01/wevel201.xml

http://www.igt.com/GamingGroup/Games/game_detail.asp?toggle=ovr&pid=5&type_id=2881&pl=#cnt

More Good News/Bad News for Server Based Gaming

2007-12-04T13:26:00.000-08:00

It seems the casino slot honchos were getting mixed messages about the beauty of Server Based gaming at G2E last month, as this Review-Journal article entitled "Flashier slots revel in their day at G2E, but patrons will have to wait for games" states.

http://www.lvrj.com/business/12031841.html

Server Based gaming was touted as everything from an enhanced experience for the player to a real revenue God-send, but the most important questions regarding time and money essentially went unanswered.

So the good news is Server Based gaming is still a ways away, and the bad news is new slots will be slow to debut on the casino floor.

Of course, the casino operators are much more concerned with revenue per square foot, than "enhancing the player experience", which I suppose is a euphenism for new ways to fleece old sheep.

I'm personally becoming so bored with the current slot selections, and the reality of always LOSING, that it becomes more work than play for me to hang out in a casino. I've crossed so many casinos off my list, and have even been ignoring $10 free slot play in some cases. It is going to take a free buffet, free play, AND new machines to get me in the door.

So, my word to the operators is -- let Server Based machines develop in their own sweet time, but please, please get the new slots that are available, like Williams "Dirty Harry," "Money Burst," and "Rotating Wilds" on the floor.

Oxygen Tanks and Smoke Filled Casinos Dangerous Mix

2007-12-04T13:24:00.000-08:00

Well, here is a horrifying bit of local news filled with graphic detail -- "Man, woman seriously burned in fire -- Cigarette sparks oxygen tank blaze; clothes melt to his body"

http://www.lvrj.com/news/12110876.html

Just like that proverbial wreck, you have to look.

It seems oxygen tanks and cigarette smoking are a very dangerous mix indeed. Which leads me to question the safety on a casino floor when the two are in close proximity. I usually see at least two or three people with oxygen tanks every time I enter a casino, and naturally I encounter hundreds of people smoking.

This link from the New Jersey Health Department entitled "Hazards of portable oxygen equipment in smoking-permitted areas" certainly supports the theory

http://www.njgasp.org/i_health_oxygen%20equip.htm

What it doesn't do is list any circumstances where fires broke out in casinos injuring patrons. It does list incidents of home fires, but perhaps the risk to the public isn't so great.

Maybe cigarette smoking slot players are not as rude as I generally hold them to be, giving oxygen tanks a wide berth.

I personally have yet to see a non-smoking slot area in Las Vegas, though I believe they exist elsewhere in the country.

Harolds Club Pioneered Slots, Ads, Working Women and Giving Back

2007-11-25T12:40:00.000-08:00

Legendary Harolds Club of Reno has been gone for over 10 years now, but the innovations established by the casino and the family that ran it, have flourished the world over.

A must read for the gambler is "I Want to Quit Winners" by Harold S. Smith. Here is a link to a website that covers the demise of the Nevada Club in Reno, and if you scroll down you will see Harold's book listed as well.

http://www.sonic.net/~tdn/nevada/nevada1.html

My favorite link on the history of Harolds Club is this one from onlinenevada.org

http://www.onlinenevada.org/harolds_club

The Smith family were pioneers in many respects -- from elevating slot machines to their place of status beside table games, to hiring female dealers, to innovative and humorous ad campaigns, to giving back to the community -- their unique character and foresight broke the rules, and changed the complexion of gambling.

If ever I had my own casino, it would be a modernized version of Harolds. I would love to see Binion's in downtown Vegas take a step back in time, add more rustic western themes, and recreate a page out of history.

I pine for the way things were -- the wild west in modern splendor, to borrow the catchphrase of the Last Frontier.

Black Friday puts me in the Pink!

2007-11-24T13:14:00.000-08:00

This year's traditional kick-off to the Christmas (er, um , for you PC types -- HOLIDAY) retail season seemed especially crazed.

Some stores were opening at 4a.m., while some decided to stay open ALL night, slashing prices at midnight on Thanksgiving. Yes, I know Las Vegas is touted as a 24 hour town, but this is just plain ridiculous. You see, I used to work retail -- and I think I can guarantee that no stockers, salesclerks, or cashiers were thrilled with these hours.

Still, it made for good press and promotion, and it appears to have worked in getting shoppers in the stores. I'm pretty certain a recession still looms ahead (Thank God gambling is recession-proof,) but on Black Friday 2007 retail mania was on full display.

I joined the throngs in dutifully pouring over my sale flyers and nailing down a plan of attack. I was tempted by the flat screen TVs and digital cameras (so that I can give you some visuals with this blog,) but as these items are usually "while supplies last" I cast my attention on one simple plentiful item -- a pink plush robe to replace my freebie so drastically lost at Red Rock.

Luckily, my object of desire was on sale at Kohl's until 1p.m. I rolled out of bed around 11:30 a.m. grabbed a cup of coffee and headed to the store a couple of blocks away. The parking lot was almost completely full, but I don't mind walking, so I snagged a spot in the back and headed on inside. I couldn't believe how crowded the store was, and when I tried to determine the length of the checkout line I was in shock. It stretched around half the store, running into a second line that stretched around the other half. I was pleased to see that the pink plush robe met my expectations and there were plenty, but then I had a decision to make. Was it really worthwhile standing for perhaps up to an hour in line to save a couple of bucks?

I had nothing better to do for a few hours, and it is getting colder by the day, and the robe is very soft and on sale for $18.99 -- oh what the hell, it's the holidays -- one long line won't hurt.

I sort of went into a zombie like mode as I inched forward along with the other shoppers. It wasn't so bad, I was out of the store by 12:55p.m. and didn't have to suffer the fate of my bargain expiring while I was in line.

I love my pink plush robe, and am wearing it as I write this. I'm pretty bound and determined not to turn on the heat until at least December 1st, even if it is now dipping into the 30's at night. Anyone who thinks Vegas is warm and dry year 'round has not been here for Monsoon Season and the snow flurries.

To sum it up, Black Friday put me in the pink, and I look forward to all this season has to offer.

Let Us Give Thanks for Free Buffets and Giveaways

2007-11-22T14:27:00.000-08:00

I have a saying that I reserve for a word of scarcastic consolation in those trying times when the slot machines have their evil way with my wallet. It goes a little something like this -- "Well, you can't lose ALL the time!"

It reminds me of the scene in the movie "Casino" when the slot manager Don Ward (played with aplomb by Joe Bob Briggs) is getting bitched out by DeNiro's Ace Rothstein (based on legendary Lefty Rosenthal) for letting three jackpots hit in close succession. The exchange goes something like this (I'm paraphrasing) -- Ace - "Did you not see you were being set up on the third win?!"
Don - "It's a casino, people got to WIN sometimes!"

Yes, indeedy! People got to WIN sometimes!

And so, on this day set aside to eat and give thanks, I will set my table with my promotional casino turkey platter, tureen, and pumpkin gravy boat, cut my free pumpkin pie, reminisce about my free buffet last night and it's bounty of offerings, and give sincere thanks for all that is good in life.

After all, people got to win sometimes, and last night I did. I had turkey with all the trimmings, and even some duck and fried shrimp (I just have to have fried something at the buffet) all for free, paying with my points at Red Rock. If I had been playing instead of eating I would have even scored $50 free play when the Jumbo Jackpot hit! Come to think about it, the night before I came out slightly ahead and scored a free apple pie. So everynow and again there IS such a thing as a free lunch, and a free pie. God Bless Las Vegas!

IGT's New Slot Offerings from the Expo

2007-11-21T14:41:00.000-08:00

I'm still perusing the stacks of brochures and magazines I picked up from last weeks Global Gaming Expo.

The big news from IGT (other than server based gaming, and guaranteed play) seems to be the eBay themed machine, Indiana Jones, a new Star Wars, and a space saving version of the Wheel of Fortune UFO.

The eBay bank certainly took up the most space in their booth, and was eye catching in it's graphic simplicity and primary color palette that is the eBay logo. In a world of bells and whistles, the message here seems to be "less is more." Unfortunately, they followed that theme to a logical end, and made the game itself, well, rather boring.

As someone who spends a lot of time on eBay, I have to say the online auction virtual marketplace is anything BUT boring. The auction concept brings instant and constant excitement, an aspect the eBay slot machine game designers seemed to have missed entirely. There is no auction bonus round in this machine, one where your credits increase as eBayers bid up your items.

There is a community bonus -- which is essentially a "Group Play Free Spins Bonus" with wilds and scatter pays.

IGT describes the allure of this machine thusly: "There's instant brand recognition and an "I HAVE to play THAT game!" reaction when players see the eBay Video Slots game."
I'm not sure this is true, but the five machine bank is big, and if bigger is better, I will say the new machine is hard to ignore. I just think the game itself is a huge let-down.

On the subject of size, IGT has made it's giant UFO looking round Wheel of Fortune machine bank smaller. In their own words "A redesigned wheel and machine footprint means you have more space on your floor. Five player stations face a vertical eye-catching wheel, offering a social atmosphere with great attraction."

IGT is constantly reinventing the Wheel of Fortune machines, but I doubt any have proved as popular as the original quarter machine. If you read between the lines like I do, you might see "The big thing didn't perform as well as we all hoped, and have been vanishing from casino floors, here is our solution -- we are downsizing." As far as I'm concerned they need to make a version that doesn't require an 80 credit bet on the penny machines to be eligible for the big spins. Loosen up the wheel and you might get more players.

I'm not terribly excited about the new Star Wars or Indiana Jones machines. The graphics are great, but if they are anything like the Star Wars predecessors the bonuses will be extremely hard to get.

I'm not saying I won't test ride these machines when they hit the floor, but I seriously doubt any of them will hold my interest or capture my gambling money for long.

IGT has simply rested on their laurels for too long, and allowed their competition WMS to overtake them as arbiters of innovation.

The REEL Deal Downtown -- Fabled El Cortez Boasts 26% Looser Slots!

2007-11-20T00:41:00.000-08:00

You read right, folks -- the legendary El Cortez in downtown Las Vegas boasts 26% looser slots than any other operator in Clark County, Nevada!!! http://www.elcortezhotelcasino.com/

I'm not sure how exactly they arrived at this figure, but it certainly warranted a trip to the other side of the tracks -- or at least Las Vegas Blvd.

You see, the El Cortez is historic, and value-oriented, which is a nice way to say it is an old grind joint. It's location on Fremont East doesn't help it's allure, but the casino/resort (a stretch to call it a resort, but actually it is the first and oldest operating "resort" in Las Vegas) has been upgrading itself, and so has the neighborhood.

This link is a great read on the life of the El Cortez http://www.onlinenevada.org/el_cortez_hotel_casino Built in 1941, the Dude ranch western themed resort predated the El Rancho Vegas, but the original partners soon ran into trouble and Thomas Hull of the El Rancho soon found himself with interests in the El Cortez. By 1945 Bugsy Siegel and his cohorts were involved, but he soon sold his interest to finance the Flamingo. We all know how that ended up for Bugsy. Meanwhile downtown, the El Cortez prospered under new ownership while it played host to many illustrious guests in the post-war era.

In 1963 it found it's most loyal owner yet when Jackie Gaughan purchased the property and began building his downtown casino empire. Although "Mr. Jackie" sold his casinos in 2002, he still lives in the penthouse of the El Cortez, and occasionally plays poker downstairs.

Although it's location a block east of Las Vegas Boulevard put the El Cortez well beyond the comforting canopy of the Fremont Street Experience, it never lost it's charm with die-hard (and down on their luck) locals.

Recent renovations are bringing the El Cortez back to it's former lustre. http://eon.businesswire.com/releases/el_cortez/vegas/prweb544668.htm The Fremont East Entertainment district is reinvigorating night life, and the condo high rise going up next door will surely gentrify the neighborhood. An entrance from Las Vegas Blvd. is being built, the neon sign is in place, but not yet lit.

So things are definitely looking up for the El Cortez -- but what about 26% looser slots? I haven't yet devised a system for comparing slot play from one casino to the next, the best I could do was just sit down and play.

I began with a "Thanksgiving themed Special Edition IGT Wheel of Fortune" machine. I'm not sure if this theme is year round or what -- but it certainly seemed appropriate for the season. I hit a 1000 credit wheel spin, and then made an unfortunate decision to try my luck with the ever volatile "Life of Luxury Far East Fortunes." I quickly lost $50 -- so there I was, down $40, but I did get a drink in the process.

I wandered over to the "Monopoly Super Grand Hotel" bank of machines and played for quite a while, hitting numerous bonus rounds, and retrieved $17 of my losses. The player on the other end of the bank seemed to be hitting many bonus rounds as well.

So I can't say for sure that El Cortez's slots are looser, but I'm tempted to try again, leaving the "Life of Luxury" machine out of the mix.

The joint has a pretty good selection of slots, it isn't too fancy, but it is comfortable. It's running a few different slot promotions I couldn't quite figure out in my short time there, but I will return.

The El Cortez has retained it's Vintage Vegas feel, and is changing just enough to compete with the casinos down the street. A new porte cochere, ventilation system, upgraded rooms, decor and restaurants are nice -- but it's the loose slots that will keep this jockey mounting up.

Christmas Shopping? Don't Head to the Mall, Head to the Casino!

2007-11-19T14:10:00.001-08:00

I got my first email come-on from the MGM/Mirage casinos today, after updating my info at Mandalay Bay a couple of months ago. It came in the form of a "Lasso Some Loot at Monte Carlo" $40,000 free play giveaway promotion. I poked around the links in the email and found the Player's Club website.

I clicked on the Holiday Gift Shoppe (I guess and extra p and e spells classy) 2007 catalog.
https://www.playersclub.com/HGS/default.aspx A Cartier Tank Watch, and Apple MacBook --Wowee -- this crap beats the hell out of the offerings at Silverton's Expansion Sale! Of course I'll need in excess of 500,000 points to put these presents under my tree, but how hard could THAT be?

There's the rub . . . after reading over all the FAQs on the website, TWICE, I still could not find the answer to the most basic question -- how does coin in convert to points? I was able to determine that a point was worth a penny, and 1000 points equals $10.00 -- therefore these high dollar gifts are worth roughly $5,000 in the points conversion. But, I still don't know how much I have to gamble to earn my points. I'll ask at the Player's Club next time I'm in one of their casinos

As pretty and enticing as the MGM/Mirage Holiday Gift Shoppe is, I doubt it will replace a trip to Target or Best Buy on black Friday. Perhaps the high rollers at the Bellagio can dispatch their personal shoppers to redeem their points, but for the time being I'll begin wrapping up my freebie "As Seen on TV" Pasta Makers and Foot Massagers.

Adaptive Gaming featuring Star Trek Machines from WMS

2007-11-18T14:44:00.000-08:00

I'm just now starting to digest all the new slot machines I saw at the Global Gaming Expo last week.

One of the big, new technologies from WMS is something they call "Adaptive Gaming." One of the guys in their booth told me it will allow a player to create a profile, (much like in a video game,) and they will be able to advance through tiers of play, even picking up where they left off on subsequent play.

The WMS brochure describes it as "a completely immersive environment that adjusts to player's personal accomplishments and preferences. Using our Wide Area network and advanced WAGE-NET system, players can unlock new "episodes" in the STAR TREK adventure and save their state so they can "pick up where they left off" during their next visit."

I picked up on the concept rather quickly, and asked the WMS guy to show me exactly how a player would create their profile. He told me it would probably happen through the player's card, but he didn't seem so sure. I asked if the player's info could go from to casino to casino, and he wasn't sure of this either. He assured me it would all be worked out, and that these machines wouldn't be on the floors for quite some time.

It's a good thing I'm not a slot manager, otherwise It would piss me off to see a machine I wanted on my floor ASAP, only to get the runaround on the specifics and ETA.

The "Star Trek" machine itself seemed pretty fun, it was mounted on one of those Bose stereo chair systems like the "Top Gun" and "Wizard of Oz" machines. There is a "Trouble with Tribbles" Bonus and a sort of pinball looking bonus, and you collect Medals, that I believe are tied into the tier system.

You would think with all these new machines on free play, my urge to hit the slots would be satiated. Not true, as there is no substitute for playing with real money.

I suggest the slot makers really up the odds next year and offer cold hard cash, for testing out their machines at the show in 2008. A free drink and demo is nice, but why not hit the industry where it lives, and give the insiders a real taste of their own medicine?

Crappy Casino Come-ons or the Night Red Rock Ran Out of Robes

2007-11-17T22:33:00.000-08:00

This may possibly be the last blog I ever write. I'm serious. My whole belief system has been shaken to the core. My world has come to an ugly, crashing halt.

I honestly don't know whether I can go on. It's one of those days where something a rational person may perceive as minor, to me becomes a major blow to my sanity.

It's the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I'm simply crushed. You may think I'm joking, or exaggerating for effect. But I am not. It's a personal tragedy of such proportion, that my very ability to live and breath and make it through the night will be severely tested.

Today was the day, that Red Rock (and I presume other Stations Casinos) finally had a decent give away -- a nice, big, fluffy, white robe -- and the very second I finally achieved my 500 points, and strode up the the promotions counter, they ran out of them.

I had been waiting for this day and my fluffy white robe for weeks. . . WEEKS . . . God and Stations Casinos really does hate me.

I can take losing money --- lots of money --- I've learned to stoically walk out of the casino, and drive away controlling my anger and fear.

But this . . . THIS, I don't know if I can survive this slight.

Mostly, Stations Casinos give away really, really crappy stuff. How crappy? Last week they gave away a drawstring bag, I kid you not, now THAT'S crappy. These giveaways happen once or twice a week, and are used to lure us locals into their gambling dens. It may be ice cream bowls or a "Guaranteed Play" T-shirt (which I cut up to use as rags to polish silver,) but generally the stuff is pretty cheap and useless, ergo a drawstring bag -- which I suppose I could store my rags in. When you have to actually apply thought towards re-purposing an item, that is one crappy come-on. The crappiest of give aways usually appear during "Mystery Gift" day, which Stations uses to clean out their inventory of crap.

Silverton Casino gives away slightly better stuff. I actually like my turkey tureen, and pumpkin teapot I got this month, and the turkey platter may actually get used this holiday. This weekend Silverton had an "Expansion Sale" to clear out their inventory under the guise of making space for their new tower. I guess all that crap takes up a lot of space. You see, I do believe that Silverton (take note Stations) judging from all the stuff at the sale, buys enough of these items so that every slot member can get one, should they show up that day.

The "Expansion Sale" had most items available for $1 or 500 slot points. Their big fluffy white robes, however were $20. Of course in anticipation of picking up my big fluffy white robe at Red Rock the next day simply for earning 500 points, I wasn't interested in buying Silverton's.

The sale was set up by the pool, and the item displayed on my promotional post card that I had my eye on was a red enamel colander -- quite useful, and attractive. I got to the sale around 4pm, and there were no colanders left. There were weird modern chrome plated toilet paper holders, chrome hanging baskets, As Seen on TV Pasta cookers, food flipper thingies, foot pampering kits (only 50 cents,) pumpkin teapots, pumpkin gravy boats, turkey platters, battery cables, American flag trays, gingerbread man trays, bunny trays, wire fruit baskets, sweatshirts, and the aforementioned robes, among other things.

For every five items you purchased you got one free. In the line for cash payment, the guy running it was giving away an average of two or three things free to those buying quantity, and making deals on whole boxes of stuff. My first run through, I bought five items and paid with my points (It came out to about 1000 points for five things, not 2000.) I took the stuff out to my car, and came back for more. On my second trip I paid $5 cash and left with two sacks full of assorted and sundry freebies (well, not free today, but damn near close.)

The sale seemed to be very popular, and I kept thinking about all the friends and relatives unwrapping modern chrome toilet paper holders on Christmas day saying "What the HELL is this?!!"

Rampart Casino actually tailors it's Christmas season giveaways to Grandparents (Rampart is in area surrounded by retirement communities) shopping for little ones, by offering radio controlled cars.

So now I have bags full of crap, and I know the true value of this promotional stuff -- about a buck.

Still, I was excited to get a big fluffy white robe (BFWR) from Station Casinos (I had spied it in a case at Palace Station, and it did look quite useful.) To get the robe, I would have to rack up 500 points, which from previous experience I knew would take a few hours of my regular play. The giveaway counter was open until 8pm, and I arrived around 4:30pm, which should have given me plenty of time.

I first swiped my player's card at the kiosk, which told me I was eligible for both 7x and 3x points. I chose 7x and tried to chose 3x as well, when the kiosk freaked out and told me to see the Player's booth.

I wasn't certain if the multipliers would figure into my 500 points, if I understand correctly the multipliers don't kick in for 72 hours. No worries though, I commenced to playing "Sultan's Jewels and the Genie" an older game, I've recently discovered that has a feature reel with 3 different bonuses (Snake Charmer, Right to Left win, and Magic Lamp) plus a traditional bonus game. I was sitting across from the giveaway table and could see the BFWRs, and all the players picking them up.

I moved over to the new "John Wayne" machine and got almost $40 ahead. I was feeling pretty good, but I kept checking my points, and they weren't racking up as fast as I thought. I continued to play "John Wayne" and began to lose my lead. I moved back the Sultan and the Genie and began playing faster. This seemed to suit this machine, and I hit quite a few bonus rounds. I kept eyeing the BFWRs and anticipating picking mine up. After a couple of beers, I went to the restroom and when I return someone was on "Genie and the Sultan" so I walked over to the "Goosin' Around" machines. I couldn't hit a bonus round (I've since learned these are part of WMS' G+ "volatile" "celebrate the win" series) -- and I wasn't celebrating.

I tried "Village People Party" and then moved back to my position across from the BFWR. I was playing as fast as I could, and although it was getting later, I thought I would still hit my 500 points in time.

As I looked over to the giveaway table I saw a disturbing sight. There was still a pile of BFWRs but it was growing smaller, and a pile of "As Seen on TV Foot Massagers" had appeared. I should have known right there that they were running out of robes, and would replace them with the crappy gift I had already received on a previous visit, but I kept the faith and continued to rack up points. I was only 50 points away from BFWR nirvana, and I comforted myself with the thought that surely they wouldn't run out of robes, especially for such loyal a player as I.

Of course, I was wrong. As soon as I hit 500 points (not one more, not one less) I bounded over to the table only to have all my hopes and dreams dashed. The girl at the table couldn't have been nicer, and she could sense my distress growing. She offered that they often run out of the good stuff -- this statement didn't real help, except it did give me a little ammunition for my arsenal against Stations and their plot to ruin my life. I asked if I could pick up the BFWR at other Stations (I was desparate at this point, I knew this was unlikely) and she replied they might have some, but they all close at 8pm (it was 7:45pm.) She mentioned that I could check at the Player's Club, and I walked over there, but the line was very long. I asked a floor guy standing there in a suit, and he said they had nothing to do with the giveaways.

I returned to the table, thanked the girl for her kindness, and told her to give her boss hell. I took my crappy Foot Massager, and tried to put on my bravest face.

I hit the "Life of Luxury Far East Fortunes" machine on the way out. I got a bonus round, but quickly began to see I was losing control. The only thing worse than leaving with a Foot Massager instead of a BFWR would be losing a considerable amount of money in the process.

I got home, poured myself a drink, and had a good cry.

Tomorrow I will shop for a BFWR paid with cold, hard cash to sooth my troubled soul -- it won't be the same, but I suppose it is not the end of the world.

So the moral of the story is -- at Station's Casinos gamble early and gamble often on big fluffy white robe giveaway day -- the good crap goes fast.

A Trip to the Strip Where Dreams and Themes Die Hard

2007-11-17T00:41:00.000-08:00

This evening I decided to visit the new Planet Hollywood themed Casino resort in the old Aladdin. The Grand Opening was not yet in full swing, but plenty of lights, cameras and red carpets in anticipation of plenty of action were in place.

Only in Las Vegas could one bankrupt entity, Planet Hollywood, find the backing to buy another bankrupt entity, the Aladdin. Apparently in Sin City, two wrongs make a right!

In a town literally made of money, there is always a chance to roll the dice, even with borrowed, high risk dollars.

Judging from my slot losses, if they can keep the suckers walking through the door (this sucker does not plan to return), Planet Hollywood will do just fine. But before I give you the rundown on the slot action -- a little background on the theming and financing of the joint.

This article from the AP entitled "Planet Hollywood Exec Rebuilding Wealth"
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jjOvMNiE9S4ELLsSSshNHr10D_uwD8STV5D80
gets it mostly right. It does state that Aladdin did not have a player's club to track action -- which is not true -- when I updated my card at the "A-List" PH (Planet Hollywood) club, my accumulated points from the Aladdin were present.

Perhaps the Aladdin player's club was so bad, they would like to believe it didn't exist. On this point, I don't see the PH club doing much better. I asked if there were any incentives for locals, the the representative told me "no" but I could play the big slot machine once a day for a chance at a big win (I pushed the button and lost, I can't remember what the big win was.) There also was one of those goofy, phony "slot tournaments" where you walk in at any time on a bank of machines, push the button a lot and walk away with a pair of plastic dice.

They did not ask me for email at the slot club, and failed to inform me that there was a drawing for a big (58" I believe) TV I could enter. Someone REALLY needs to train the Players' Club people in this town to be pleasant, upbeat, informative, and thorough. PH does have two Player's Club locations on opposite sides of the casino, which is a plus, that is how I noticed that the one didn't let me know about the drawing bin at the other.

Judging from the room rates on the Planet Hollywood website http://www.planethollywoodresort.com/ it appears that perhaps they are aiming for a mid-market clientele, undercutting the competition (Bellagio, and Paris) across the street.

The Aladdin always seemed to strive for an upper-middle market, never being the classiest joint in town, but respectable enough to draw it's share of stars of celebrities (Elvis married Priscilla there), that added to it's allure through the years. The opulent Arabian Nights theme seemed perfect for the desert, echoing a time when themes actually reflected the physical landscape of Las Vegas.

The landscape of Las Vegas has definitely changed -- from a dusty western outpost, to a desert dream of rags to riches, to a sex-drenched, celebrity infested, hyper-modern money grab. Okay, Vegas has always been about sex, money, and celebrity, but the LOOK of the fantasy has evolved.

A few years ago, I wondered why no chic, sleek, modern (a la W hotels at the time) resort/casinos existed in Las Vegas. Little did I know that fast forward to the present, and "modern chic" would overrun the Strip and beyond, trampling overt theming such as the Luxor, and Treasure Island, in it's wake.

If you are expecting the Planet Hollywood Casino to look like a Planet Hollywood cafe exploded, you will be disappointed. I couldn't find any Hollywood or Movie memorabilia on the casino floor, save for some framed B&W celebrity photos on the walls leading to the mall. I haven't seen the rooms, but apparently some do include memorabilia and are themed to specific movies, such as a "Pulp Fiction" suite.

What Planet Hollywood does look like is "modern chic" crossed with Times Square video screen monstrosities. I suppose Hollywood is too cool to celebrate itself with historical vestiges, but more than happy to acknowledge that life now is one big silver (video) screen. Perhaps you could call it "purity of form," I call it boring.

The look of the exterior and casino floor just doesn't do it for me. I did appreciate the Swarovski crystal globe like chandeliers, but they aren't quite as pretty as the ones at Red Rock. The crystal columns in the lobby are different, and downstairs you will find "Obsessions" a celebrity drenched memorabilia and art gallery that includes a wonderful room devoted to photos of Frank Sinatra.

All and all, visually Planet Hollywood has it's high points, but they are few and far between. Gentlemen will appreciate the sexy dancing dealers on pedestals in the "Passion Pit" -- but I'm first and foremost a slot jockey, so it was time to choose a mount and get to the business at hand.

I found some older Monopoly penny machines "It's All in the Cards," "Own it All," and the one with the dog. I quickly lost $20. On the other side of the floor I found what is probably the last "Fortune Cookie" penny machine in town. I lost there too, but did get a beer in the process. Armed with a little liquid courage, I sauntered up to "Drew Carrey's Big Balls of Cash" carousel. If you read yesterday's post, there is a link to a New York Times article that details the development of these machines. I haven't seen any in Vegas in quite some time, and thought they were a flash in the pan. Drew took my money as well, and I was berated by a couple of his put-downs and wisecracks in the process. Note to IGT -- being told you're a loser while you are losing, is NOT funny.

At this point I had to visit the ATM, which charged me a whopping $4.00 for the transaction. I headed upstairs to check out the vantage point from above, and yep, the casino floor still looked rather bland from that perspective. The VIP party was getting underway for "invited guests" but no celebs were to be seen, just your regular avid casino customer types. I spied some "Monster Mansion" penny machines in what used to be the high roller area of the Aladdin, and sat down there, losing about $10.

On the way back downstairs, I thought maybe Elvis would be lucky for me, and quickly lost a bunch on his 25 cent machines. Now I was plain pissed off. Still not convinced that PH could be so damn tight with their machines, I attacked Monopoly once again. Nothing. When all was said and done, I lost well over $100, possibly closer to $200.

PH needs to spend less time and money updating the decor and more attention to their outdated slot selection.

I walked through a portion of the "Miracle Mile Shops" on my way out, to distract myself from my losses, and make a few more notes on the "modernization" of the mall.

Even my beloved "Trader Vic's" has gone sleek and chic, and it's menu streamlined. No more Tikis and thick menus with exotic entrees that could leave even the most sophisticated gourmet scratching his head. For that you'll have to visit the original Trader Vic's in Emeryville, California.

This is Vegas, baby -- where new modern retro cool is 50 years behind the times, and the real deals are imploded with abandon. Ain't it a kick in the head?

Saturday, Bruce Willis will preside over the big Grand Opening event at 7:30pm proving that themes and dreams really do die hard.

Cherry Dribblers or Cherry Bombs?

2007-11-15T22:53:00.000-08:00

I just wrapped up G2E Day 3, and after all is said and done, one thing (other then the impending doom that is Server Based Gaming) is sticking in my craw.

Yesterday, I was discussing the Williams (WMS -- but I've learned most people refer to the company as "Williams") Transmissive Video Reels "Monopoly Super Money Grab" game with one of their representatives.

If you've read my former posts, than you'll know I am not a fan of these machines that Williams introduced with much hoopla, and online enticements.

I should know better than to offer my opinion as a humble player to industry insiders, but I just don't friggin' give a sh*t -- if it wasn't for us, these jokers wouldn't have a job. There I said it.

I said something to the effect that the "Money Grab" machines weren't performing up to expectations, (I base this on my own experiences, and that a bank of the machines at Red Rock have already been replaced with the newer model "John Wayne" machines only after a few months, while "Monopoly Grand Hotel" machines introduced around the same time and located on the other side of the bank are still always occupied and quite popular.) and the Williams guy insisted they were doing great. He backed this up with a comment about seeing the numbers, and knowing for a fact that they were performing quite well. I replied that I couldn't argue with the numbers, but that as a player I just couldn't win on them, didn't like the gimmick and was quickly turned off. That's when he said "Well, they are VOLATILE machines!"

VOLATILE -- a word I had never heard used to describe a slot machine.

In general, to me -- a Junior College Dropout -- but a person who prides themselves on a better than average grasp of English vocabulary, volatile means unpredictable and prone to violent outbursts.

So what exactly, is a volatile slot machine? My guess before doing the perfunctory internet research was one that may be frustrating in the short term, but after a prolonged investment may pay off in spades.

Last week I drove past Silverton Casino and noticed their video billboard advertised a lucky player who won the "Super Money Grab" progressive to the tune of $600 + thousand dollars.

I rarely bet the max to qualify for the progressive, or invest more than a couple of $20 bills in any one machine (unless of course I'm drunk, pms-ing, or "Life of Luxury Far East Fortunes" is involved.)

Still I connected the dots, the "Super Money Grab" machine is not a "cherry dribbler" burping out small wins to suck the gambler in, but perhaps a "cherry bomb" a machine that promises and is programmed for the big win.

Check out this article from the New York Times (2004) by Gary Rivlin entitled "The Tug of the Newfangled Slot Machines" http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C06EED8133DF93AA35756C0A9629C8B63 for a fascinating look inside the mind of chief IGT game designer Anthony Baerlocher. At more than 3 years old, it is rather outdated, but still gives a great background on the developmental process of a themed slot machine.

A few more google searches and I learned that slot machines had VOLATILITY INDEXES. I'm surprised this is a term I had never encountered before, perhaps the ole slot jock needs a little remedial education in Slots 101. According to "Strictly Slots" http://www.strictlyslots.com/archive/9908ss/html/understandingslot.html the Volatility Index " is a number that casino managers use to determine whether or not the results (i.e. a machine’s hold percentage) are in line with expectations, or whether something is wrong and needs investigating." It involves mathematical equations too advanced for my brain to wrap around, but the concept is simple enough.

It makes sense that if "Super Money Grab" is a volatile progressive machine, it wouldn't begin to approach it's expected payouts for quite some time. There goes the myth that new machines pay out better than old ones. From now on I will play new machines with more care.

So, gentle reader, the word of the day is VOLATILE -- not just as it applied to your ex-husband, wife, or significant other, but how it applies to something much more near and dear to your heart -- your slot machine.

Go in peace, and Good Luck!

Brave New World - the Eye in the Sky Inches Closer

2007-11-14T22:06:00.000-08:00

Big Brother is watching, and as a slot player your paranoia is completely founded in fact.

As if the ubiquitous "Eye in the Sky" wasn't bad enough, and your Slot Club card didn't give the house free rein to track your every move, desire, and weakness -- along comes -- ominous "dum dum dum" music please -- the dreaded SERVER BASED GAMING.

On the second day of the Global Gaming Expo, I learned a little bit of information, that I found to be scariest of all -- brace yourself -- Server based slot machines will be indistiguishable from the traditional one armed bandits you have come to know and love/hate.

If you're not up to date on what Server Based gaming is, let me give you a couple of things to chew on.

First my simplified explanation -- Server Based gaming allows the house to change any machine at any time -- the cabinet is essentially a monitor or video screen, and the game is controlled by a centralized server (computer). The game itself, its odds, its bonus rounds, paylines, and your information via your slot card are all immediately accessible and rateable and/or changeable by the house.

Scary, I know. But, if you don't trust my paranoid knee-jerk response to this marvel of modern technology, read on . . .

The Las Vegas Review Journal covers the subject thusly - http://www.lvrj.com/business/11232241.html in an article entitled cheerily enough "Wave Hello to Tomorrow" in which they write --

"Conceivably, downloadable gaming would allow casino managers to change a slot machine's games, denominations, bonus payouts and promotions from a central computer server rather than requiring technicians to perform the work manually. In some forms, the server-based systems would allow customers to change out their games themselves.

Most slot machine company executives admit server-based gaming systems, being tested in several markets, are still a year or so away from the slot floor."

A WMS guy I talked to today said the machines could be 18 months away from the casino floor, and I didn't press the point, but I'm guessing local gaming regulation boards may have something to do with the delay.

If you still have questions, and certainly I do, why not get some answers straight from the horse's mouth? -- here is a link to IGT's promotion I will call "Everything you wanted to know about Server Based Gaming, but were afraid to ask." (it is an Adobe file.) http://media.igt.com/marketing/PromotionalLiterature/SlotLine_sb.pdf

Whoever wrote this piece entitled "A Brave New World" should have been reminded that Adolf Huxley described his novel as a "negative Utopia" or to paraphrase -- a cautionary tale.

Big Brother is watching, and his yearn to control our every move and thought inches closer and closer every time we enter a casino.

As I was mulling all this over, it occurred to me that server based machines must have standardized cabinets. That's when it hit me -- no more character based 3-D sculptures hovering over your head like Elvis, the Beverly Hillbillies, Spam Cans, the Addams Family, or Arnold the Pig from Green Acres. Are not even our beloved pop culture icons sacred?

Much like the eleborate visual themes and neon that are being wiped from the Las Vegas strip and replaced by giant video screens, the slot machines themselves will be whitewashed, or more appropriately chrome washed, mere shells -- one just like the other for the powers that be to project their chosen games upon.

This is the future of gaming -- a Brave New World, where the house controls your play in ways you never thought possible, and you are not a name, but a number -- Don't believe me? Look -- it's right there, on your slot card.

Global Gaming Expo - Day 1

2007-11-14T12:30:00.000-08:00

If you haven't gleaned from my previous posts, the Global Gaming Expo, or G2E is the premiere trade show event for the GAMING industry. That's gaming, NOT gambling, mind you.

The American Gaming Association is quick to assert that Gaming is entertainment, and gambling, well, that has connotations of high risk and ruined lives.

A rose by any other name still smells as sweet, and the fortunes made by the house are sweet indeed. The thorny issue of problem gambling, (note that when "gaming" stops being fun, it becomes "gambling" and therefore a problem -- I say, it is only a problem when I'm losing!) is a PR issue the mighty AGA is only too eager to tackle.

But enough about that, what about the new SLOT MACHINES!!!

Before I headed into the main exhibit hall, I picked up my badge and enjoyed the F&B (Food and Beverage) exhibits. As I mentioned in earlier posts, trade shows are all about the freebies, and G2E certainly does not disappoint.

I stuck with mini roast beef deli sandwiches, hot dogs, a nice merlot and beer. There were plenty of more gourmet inspired options, but sometimes simple is best.

With my strength and spirits rising I headed into the big hall and the WMS and IGT pavilions. I was instantly overwhelmed.

I naturally gravitated toward WMS and looked over a new version of the "Life of Luxury Progressive." A lovely young lady in a very little black dress was happy to show me the bonus round. Of course I was more than familiar with the Life of Luxury free spins, but she couldn't figure out how to queue up the bonus round unique to the machine. No matter, we went around to the other side and she demonstrated the new "Happy Days" Machine for me. She was very pleasant considering she had been standing on very high heels for a very long time, and I thanked her and moved over to the new Clint Eastwood "Make my Day" machine.

"Dirty Harry" and the Sensory Immersion (basically a Bose stereo chair that vibrates) technology is a match made in slot machine heaven. Similar to "Top Gun" in it's macho appeal, the shoot 'em up car chase through the streets of San Francisco in the bonus round, takes the marriage of slots and video games to a logical and exhilarating match. Oh, and I just love Clint.

While trying it out I got to talking to one of the audio techno guys responsible for the creation, and he was quite charming, and only a little bit nerdy. I told him of the popularity of "Wizard of Oz" over "Top Gun" and he offered that "Top Gun" was rather aggressive and testosterone driven, while the "Wizard" was a softer approach. Well, Glinda the Good Witch is all well and good, but Flying Monkeys, and Wicked Witches are only slightly softer than F-14s in my book, still I understood his line. I asked him who did the voices for Clint and John Wayne, and he told me that they had guys they used that were approved by Mr. Eastwood and the Wayne family.

So there you have it. That is not Clint Eastwood making your day, but an approved impersonator, or perhaps "Tribute Artist" as they like to be called.

I couldn't tarry long with Clint, as there were a slew of other new machines waiting to be discovered. I quickly checked out "Harlem Globetrotters" similar to "Dukes of Hazzard" in line configuration and the new "Rotating Wild" machines.

I found myself at the "Slot Machine University" kiosk in the WMS booth, and cut right to the chase with the attendants. I asked them about the function of the RNG in bonus rounds. They both admitted that they had asked the same question themselves and had never gotten a straight answer. I then asked them where the party was. Like I said, time was a'wastin' and I had a whole exhibit hall of new machines to conquer. They offered that the parties were at the House of Blues and Tangerine, but they were ticketed affairs. These dudes didn't seem to have access to tickets, so I thanked them and moved on.

The largest display in the IGT booth was the "eBay" themed machines, and a new version of "Star Wars" -- that's right, I said "eBay" -- if monopolizing online auctions wasn't enough eBay wants access to your wallet on the casino floor as well. I am very active on eBay, but honestly the concept just does not translate into a slot machine. I was quickly bored with the look, and that whole "Community Gaming" thing, similar to the "Monopoly" and "Press Your Luck" machines by WMS.

It was nearing 5pm, so I fanned out over the floor to take in the offerings of Atronic, Bally, and other lesser slot machines companies. I grabbed a beer from the roving cocktail servers and walked the aisles. Nothing really jumped out at me, and I decided to call it a day.

As I was headed toward the Hilton skywalk, the "Gaming Hall of Fame" booth caught my eye. It had an affiliation with UNLV, and featured luminaries such as Frank Sinatra and Merv Griffin alongside lions of the industry. http://www.americangaming.org/halloffame/past_inductees.cfm

Basically, a two dimensional (the panels of the booth featured photos and bios of select inductees) representation, a real live human did stand in the middle, so I asked him about the display.

On thing led to the other, and I asked him if he knew that UNLV gaming research guy, what was his name? Um, Schwartz . . . David Schwartz? He said "I am David Schwartz," in a polite and unassuming way that made me laugh, and not feel the least bit embarrassed.

I'll let the good Doctor Schwartz's (he's a PhD) accomplishments and endeavors speak for themselves through his website "The Die is Cast" http://www.dieiscast.com/

Peruse his site, and his insight, he's written three books on gambling and casinos, and is the director of UNLV Gaming Research Center.

I especially like his gallery of casino carpets, that's just the sort of quirky visually detailed kind of stuff I thrive on.

Even though I would consider Schwartz a sort of "Rock Star" at the crossroads where academia and casinos meet (yes, I think there is such a place, and we can thank folks like Schwartz for it) he appears to be an affable, down to earth guy.

If ever I can tear myself away from the slots, I'll be sure to read his books . . . I've been meaning to, but like Bette Davis says in "All About Eve" I'm a girl who "reads book reviews like they were books!" I'm sure Schwartz's offerings are probably perfect for a lazy afternoon by the casino pool. They have been on my radar screen for quite some time, I need to start zooming in.

I walked through the Hilton, to get to my car, updated my slot club info, and played the "Gold Lame" penny Elvis slots. Shockingly, I hit a couple of bonus rounds, left $20 up, and cruised down the strip to Mandalay Bay.

The party at the House of Blues seemed difficult to sneak into, so I played a little "Monopoly Super Grand Hotel" drove to Silverton for a free buffet, and rounded out my evening by picking up my free turkey platter at South Point.

Now I'm off for G2E - Day 2!

The FINAL Frontier, A True Classic Makes Space for Progress

2007-11-14T11:28:00.000-08:00

If space is the final frontier, then the Last Frontier met a fitting if somewhat ironic destiny, making space for new casino resort complex on the Strip.

I call it the "Last Frontier" because that is how it began life in 1942. Through the years it's name would be changed to "the New Frontier," "the Frontier" and back to "the New Frontier" illustrating a time when established brands were respected in Las Vegas, and successful names could be tweeked, but not destroyed.

The Frontier, as I will call it for simplification, was so old that it's history was somewhat maligned in it's final days. The press got it wrong, mostly. A local news anchor reported that the hotel tower from the 1940's was to be imploded. The tower was built in 1990. T-shirts sported by employees said "The New Frontier -- 1965 - 2007." 1965 was the year Howard Hughes dropped the "New" from the name.

I won't bore you with all the details about the history of the property. Leavinglv.net http://www.leavinglv.net/frontier.html has done a great job covering the closing and implosion, so check out all they have to offer.

Some of my favorite stories about the Frontier involve it's birth, and the rivallry between Thomas Hull and R.E. Griffith. Hull opened the El Rancho Vegas in 1941, the very first Casino/Hotel (actually more like a Motel)/Resort and is usually credited with creating the strip -- that is when Bugsy Siegel is not being improperly celebrated for the honor.

R.E. Griffith, brother of movie mogul D.W. Griffith also had his eyes on the strip and already had a string of hotels called "El Rancho."

It was a veritable Western themed shootout to see who could wrangle the rights for the RANCH.

Griffith was injured, when the El Rancho Vegas opened first, but he wasn't dead yet. He opened "The Last Frontier" the next year in 1942, and did his darndest to out-dude ranch his neighbor.

"The Old West in Modern Splendor" became the slogan for the Last Frontier, and the marriage of the past and the present suited the outskirts of Las Vegas just fine.

Jump ahead 65 years, and it seems the more things change, the more things stay the same. An old chapter closes in Las Vegas, and new one opens -- or it will anyway, but first things first -- there is a building to implode!

I cruised on down to the strip, heading east on Charleston. Las Vegas in the wee small hours is fairly easy to navigate, the traffic is light, and the lights are dazzling. I made a right on Las Vegas Blvd. and made it as far as the Riviera where police were diverting traffic.

I figured the top of the Riviera parking lot was as good a place as any to view the event as any, and joined a small crowd that had already gathered. It was T-30, a brisk Vegas November night, and the few beers I had consumed earlier had wore off my brain, but not my bladder. I headed into the Riviera for a bathroom break.

I next decided to head out onto the street and got swept up in the crowd headed south down the boulevard. You should never miss the opportunity to walk in the middle of a normally busy avenue, even if it is blocked off and perfectly safe to do so.

Unfortunately, I had left my video camera in the car, but there was not enough time to return, and the prospect of better viewing and the chill in the air kept me walking toward the intended target. I found a good spot at around T-10, and waited, my ears enjoying the banter of the crowd, and my eyes planted on the darkened Frontier.

A spectacular fireworks display soon began, with pyrotechnics dancing off the doomed hotel tower and bursting in air. Frankly, It was one of the best displays I had ever seen and I loved every minute. What I didn't know was that the real show was one the west side of the tower, out of my view.

I would learn the next day that a fiery countdown and intonation plunger was employed as part of the extravaganza on the other side of the tower, as a wonderful prelude to destruction.

Still, what we didn't know did not dampen our spirits, as we waited with baited breath for the money shot.

The dynamite went boom, boom, boom (and maybe more) and the building went down with grace and gusto. It was a beautiful and terrible thing.

My favorite comment from a reveler was "That is what you get for taking all my money!!!"

And it is all about money, after all.

G2E Kick-Off Party, New Frontier Implosion, and John Wayne Slots, Oh My!

2007-11-13T13:38:00.001-08:00

Yep, Last night sure was a busy one for the ole slot jock. It kicked off at the Rio where the opening reception for the Global Gaming Expo transpired pool-side.

The throngs of gaming insiders were out in force, and to alleviate the crowd at the entrance, I decided to spend some time wandering around the Rio, a property I haven't visited in quite some time.

I believe last time I was there, I had been comped a couple of nights (it was August monsoon season) and the weather outside was frightful. The storm was so bad (I used to live in Tennessee - I KNOW a bad storm when I see one) I couldn't venture across the street to the Gold Coast to gamble. The Coast Casinos are a much more reasonable choice than Harrah's slightly more upscale all-suites Rio property, for this low roller.

WMS' "Kaboom" and "All That Glitters" were new at the time, and I ended up losing $500 in the nickel versions at the Rio. So much for the free room. At the time that was the most money I had ever lost in such a short time, and later back in my room, I suffered my first panic attack.

I was able to finally calm myself down, though I was tempted to call the paramedics -- I stopped by imagining the ensuing hassle. Since then I have witnessed other people suffer similar attacks in Vegas, and once in front of me on a plane leaving Vegas. I've learned difficulty breathing, elevated heart rate, and generally just physically and mentally freaking out does not necessarily mean you are dying, especially in Sin City.

Suffice it to say, I now avoid the Rio and other Harrah's properties, and yes, I do blame the tight slots for causing my discomfort.

All that didn't keep me from updating my information at the slots club, because I am ALWAYS willing to prove myself wrong when it comes to slots, properties, and slot clubs.

I'm a whore, I admit it.

I proceeded to lose $30 playing that "Jackpot Party" progressive machine, "Super Jackpot Party", and "It Came from Planet Moolah."

My worse fears were confirmed, AND Harrah's gave me no sort of compensation for updated my account (they didn't ask for my new email -- so that's more points against them, I think the only reason I got the free rooms was that I was receiving enticements meant for a high roller out of New Jersey with a very similar email address to mine.)

Rio has updated the Carnivale float parade in the sky thingy, and generally tried to sex-up the whole party on the casino floor, with elevated sexy (both male and female -- Chippendales is a big draw for them -- also "sexy" is a relative term here, I thought the girl I watched had several figure flaws, thick unshapely legs being one, but the guys oogling her didn't seem to mind.) dancers and a new bar area. They still throw beads from above and a necklace or two hit me rather hard on the knee, before a couple of delighted kids scooped them up. Apparently the "bring the family" and "Adult playground" Vegas concepts can co-exist on the casino floor, even if the grown-ups leering at scantily clad male and female dancers in the presence of the rug rats, gives it a sort of "icky" feel.

On to the party . . . it was crowded and dark by the pool, with a sort of Hollywood red carpet theme tied into the event. By the time I got there most of the food was gone, but the pasta station was still operating, even if the Caesar salad and anti-pasta station was decimated.

I suppose networking is a goal to some at these industry functions, but for most I suspect it is free food and drink judging by the mania surrounding the buffet and the bars. The Gaming guys and gals are just like anybody else. I worked in the trade show business for years making graphics and signage, and we had a saying -- "It'll be dark, and they'll be drunk." It was, and they were.

The highlight of the event was the chance to win "up to" a Million dollars in a pirate themed, "Deal or No Deal" type promotion. I gladly filled out an entry to the drawing, and waited for the festivities to begin.

My name was not drawn, but it was fun watching the lucky participants chose treasure chests, with an attractive older lady named Jean win the chance to pick suitcases, and be subjected to taunts, temptation and the dreaded banker.

Jean was one pretty smart cookie, and when faced with a difficult decision took her $7,000 and ran. As far as I could tell, the game was run a company that stages these promotions for casinos, and this was their way of hawking their services.

All and all, it was fun, and the closest thing I would compare it to is the "Pumpkin Patch" promotion at the South Point in October which I totally fell for, gambling there to earn entries to the drawing.

After the party, I headed for my usual haunt Red Rock to take advantage of 7X and 4X points. That's right, I think I got 11X points. I couldn't completely understand what the Points Promotion card swipe kiosks were telling me, but even if it was only 7X points, that's the best point multiplier I've ever received.

I played "Wizard of Oz," and actually got ahead a twenty, then headed for "Lucky Meerkats" and "Goosin' Around" and lost my lead. I played an old favorite, "Love Boat" and even a few rounds with my nemesis "Life of Luxury Progressive."

It was getting late, and I was heading out the door, when what did I see before me? Eureka, I found it! A new slot machine, and John Wayne, to boot!

The Duke himself, right there, in Transmissive Reels Technology!!! Finally, those much ballyhooed, but disappointing Monopoly machines were being replaced.

I happily sat down for a session with the Waynester, and I don't mean Newton.

I dropped $5 and didn't get much results. The transmissive video features highlights of John Wayne's iconic career -- I could discern bits of "the Green Berets," "True Grit," and other assorted westerns. The mechanical reels spin and a progressive is tied in. Much like "Life of Luxury" your chances of winning the progressive increased with your bet. I believe the progressive stars pop up in the free spin bonus round triggered on the first and fifth reels.

The woman sitting next to me wasn't having much luck and neither was I. I commented that I wondered where they got John Wayne's voice, as he has long since left this earth. She replied "Maybe from his old movies." I found this quite amusing, as I don't think John Wayne ever said "You got five of a kind pilgrim!" onscreen.

I put in another twenty, 'cuz it was John Wayne, and a new machine, AND I'm a degenerate gambler. I hit the bonus round and the progressive for around $35 bucks. My work was done. Even though I don't care for WMS' Transmissive video reels, I couldn't knock John Wayne, and I will play the machine again.

It was getting late, and I had an important decision to make -- Do I go to the implosion of the New Frontier at 2:30 a.m.? I was tired, but I had attended the final night at the historic resort, and the auction, and I had never seen a Las Vegas implosion. It kinda seems like a no-brainer, but I do like my sleep, and I figured the press would do a fine job covering it.

As I was walking out of Red Rock, I asked a bedraggled looking skinny biker dude if he was going to the implosion. He said he was, and I said I wasn't sure I would. He summed it up with "Well, it's something to do . . . " one of my favorite quotes from "Cool Hand Luke." How could I argue with that? It was indeed something to do. And so I did.

New Machine MANIA!

2007-11-11T13:44:00.000-08:00

There is nothing more exciting for the Slot Blog (other than winning big, but that is such a rare occurrence it is hardly worth mentioning) than new slot machines on the casino floor.

When they are elaborately themed WMS models the excitement really builds.

That is the case with WMS' "Wizard of Oz" machines at Red Rock Casino.

Apparently the machines are so new that they are not even listed on the WMS website. I'm not sure why that is the case, but no matter. The machines are such a big hit, that players stand sometimes two or three deep and stalk the carousel, so that they might get a shot.

It began a few weeks ago, when Red Rock switched out two of the Top Gun machines to Wizard of Oz. The general slot playing public didn't catch on immediately and I was able to sit down and play for about an hour.

I got a good "Emerald City" bonus and picked up Dorothy as I headed down the Yellow Brick Road. When I got to Emerald City the wizard granted me the highest credit in Dorothy's cache - 1500 on the penny machine.

I figured every bonus would be pretty good, based on that experience, soon to learn I was wrong. I haven't had a bonus like that since, instead usually choosing a credit amount, or sometimes the "Flying Monkey" bonus instead of the "Emerald City" bonus.

On one occasion I was able to choose the "Emerald City" but got very little, crapping out almost immediately and not getting past the Wizard's gates.

The Wizard of Oz machines use the same "Sensory Immersion" technology as Top Gun, meaning the Bose stereo system imbedded in the chair uses sound and vibrations to add to the experience.

Randomly "Glinda the Good Witch" floats through to turn reels wild, similar to the Fly By bonus of Top Gun.

It didn't take long for the throngs at Red Rock to discover the new machine, and soon the phenomenon of "nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd" took hold.

Red Rock responded by switching out the last two Top Gun machines to Wizard of Oz, but they could (and perhaps should) go farther and add more, judging from the popularity of the new machines.

How long will it take for the novelty to wear off? I was able to play the machine the other day as the crowds are beginning to thin.

As I've mentioned in earlier posts, the shelf life of slot machines, is becoming shorter and shorter. WMS seems to know this better than anyone, and is not shy about constantly introducing new machines at an alarming clip.

This last week WMS "Goosin' Around" and "Lucky Meerkats" also appeared at Red Rock, usurping a favorite machine of mine "Jewels of the The Night" another WMS machine that has yet to appear on its website.

I need to go into another Station Casino to see if they are spreading them around town, but it doesn't hurt that the closest casino to my domecile is their latest and greatest Red Rock. . . which leads me to another post -- a Station Casino promotion that I actually like!

GGE is Coming, GGE is Coming!

2007-11-11T13:36:00.001-08:00

That's the Global Gaming Expo, coming to Las Vegas, TOMORROW!!!

Yep, I'm excited! By why not? I get to hang out in the Slot machine companies' booths and play all the new machines on free play, and try to get invited to their blow-out parties.

I'm guessing the hot party this year will be the one James Gandolfini might attend, promoting the new SOPRANOS themed machine by Aristocrat.

They are already on the floor at Silverton Casino, and honestly like most Aristocrat products, didn't seem to interest me.

I'll blog more at the Global Gaming Expo later, but I see a good opportunity while I'm enthused to segueway into . . .

NEW MACHINE MANIA!

Wheel of Fortune - IGT Spells Weak Sales

2007-11-11T12:58:00.000-08:00

Well, I can't say I was surprised. IGT is experiencing a dip in sales.

This recent article from the Las Vegas Review Journal entitled "IGT's earnings up, sales down Decrease in slot sales drags down revenue" http://www.lvrj.com/business/7116826.html tells the tale.

My favorite part is that the analysts were shocked, that IGT sold only about half the amount of machines this quarter than they did last year.

Apparently, the analysts don't play slot machines. Note that the analysts were also bully on Suprime Mortgage companies right up to the recent crash.

Perhaps the analysts should spend less time courting the favor of the companies they are supposed to be honestly analyzing, and more time in casinos, wagering their own funds, and testing out the merchandise. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt them to read my blog, either.

I avoid IGT slots like the plague. Instead of becoming more interesting, their parade of new slot machines have been dumming down.

While WMS strides boldly forward with ever more complex games of stunning themes, and innovative technology, IGT has been churning out games that I can barely distinguish from the simplistic looking Aristocrat line.

Simply put WMS rules, and IGT sucks . . . and it is beginning to show in the bottom line.

Also note in the article that a significant source of revenue for IGT was insurance settlement money from the Katrina damage. That is just so sad, when you cite profit from a major disaster.

I'm not sure why IGT has chosen to take the low road. It's weird, but I suppose it has to do something with outsourcing of game design to other companies, and a perhaps a perceived loss of market share to Arisocrat.

Of course, not all IGT products are dogs, but I'm certain IGT would have to admit their high hopes for the "Star Wars" line, and the huge UFO looking Wheel of Fortune machines didn't exactly pan out.

The Wheel of Fortune franchise of slot machines does continue to grow, as IGT milks what they obviously believe to be a cash cow. And there is always video poker, and the new "Server Based" technology creeping onto the casino floor.

Still, it looks like IGT is hoping that "a rising tide raises all ships" and that the influx of new casinos opening around the world will add sales to their weak stream.

Writer's Strike a Boon for Las Vegas!

2007-11-09T13:27:00.000-08:00

I shouldn't even be writing this. There's a writer's strike, and well, officially I am a writer. Yep, I've been published in hardcover and everything . . . bet you didn't know that.

Anyway, I'll keep it short and sweet, and you heard it here first.

The Writer's Guild of America strike is good for Las Vegas. For one, I'll be doing more gambling since I can't (or shouldn't) write, and my fellow locals will too, once the reruns kick in. Given the choice between bad TV and slot machines, I'll play slots -- and so will you.

So I'm guessing the big dogs in the boardrooms are not hoping for a swift resolution to Hollywood's problem.

Okay, that's it - I've got to walk my own little picket line straight for the casino.

More Mysteries of the Random Number Generator

2007-10-24T13:29:00.000-07:00

In my last post I addressed the all powerful RNG, or Random Number Generator, at the center of every slot machine.

The description of the workings seem simple enough --- numbers endlessly being spit out --- your particular draw, or reel stops to be determined when you press the buttom or pull the arm. But what about bonus rounds? Huh? How does THAT work?!

Bonus rounds are becoming increasingly more sophisticated and entertaining, which leads me to ask -- how exactly does the RNG come into play when I begin my fascinating journey to a bonus of free spins, and picking choices?

Does my first punch of the button predetermine my whole bonus, or do I really determine my own outcome by my wily skills at choosing jewels, or money bags or whatever the symbols might be?

I really don't know, but I do care . . . very much.

In a little over two weeks time, I will be attending the fabulous Global Gaming Expo, where the latest and greatest in Slot Machine technology is trotted out to the trade. Maybe I can corner some designer at one of the many cocktail parties and get my answer.

How Slot Machines Work or the Mystery of the Random Number Generator

2007-10-21T13:27:00.001-07:00

Most slot players are aware that they are not playing with a machine, but with a highly sophisticated computer. However, superstitious folks that slot jockeys are, some myths such as "machines about to hit" and "hot and cold runs" just refuse to die.

Most of us have heard of the "Random Number Generator" at the heart of the old-armed bandits evil brain, but few of us truly understand how it works.

I can't pretend to make a clear and simple explanation or something so arcane (that's the word of the day), but I will try to steer you in the right direction, should your inquiring mind want to know.

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/slot-machine3.htm This website is about as good as it gets.

In a nutshell, the RNG short for Random Number Generator, is a computer program that constantly spits out hundreds of random numbers per second.

The numbers correspond to stops on the slot reel through a mathematical equation (this is where the odds can be set), the higher value paying symbols and the chance of them matching up are programmed to hit less than the lesser paying values.

The numbers are assigned when you hit the button or pull the arm. This is important to know for two reasons -- 1. The chances of your numbers being the same as someone else's per pull is astronomical, meaning the player that just sat down at the machine you just left did not win or steal your jackpot. 2. Stopping the reels does not change the outcome of the spin.

The payback of the machine (between 75% and 99%) is set based on the lifetime of the machine (usually 3 to 5 years, although as technology advances, and machines live longer, that may be changing)

The real wildcard is how frequently the machine is played -- and how that is figured into the payback or lifetime quotient.

Noone has ever been able to explain that to me, but perhaps that is a trade secret.

The explanation of the RNG, also always claims that every pull has an equal chance of winning a jackpot. If that is true, I suspect those odds are severely stacked against the slot jockey.

Oh well, at least we can dream of one day riding a machine across the finish line and into the winner's circle.

The Best Slot Machines to Play

2007-10-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

Last night I was back at Binion's playing "Dukes of Hazzard" on the house's dime (see previous posts about Binion's weekly $15 free play.) Next to me sat an affable gentlemen who was thoroughly enjoying his bonus rounds. He told me he had never played "Dukes of Hazzard," but he was already up $20 bucks and it is a fun machine. I replied that they were new machines, and fairly rare in town, but they also had them across the street at the Four Queens (could be that Terry Caudhill's new ownership of Binion's might be the reason for that -- I've always known the Four Queens to have an excellent slot selection, though they are quite tight.)

My neighbor then asked me "What are the best slot machines to play?" I shot back without hesistation "The machines that will put you up $20 bucks and are fun to play!" He laughed and said he like "Deal or No Deal" and had just won $300 on those machines (he was betting 3 per line, or 75 credits on Dukes.) I said I think he figured out the best machines to play, and added that the machines are really all the same when it came to odds, the important thing was luck, and playing a machine you enjoy.

So that's the end of the story, and the moral is THE BEST SLOT MACHINES TO PLAY ARE THE ONES YOU CAN WIN ON AND HAVE FUN WITH. Good Luck on your quest for the best slot machines to play.

Next blog -- how slot machines really work, or what is a RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR?

Station Casinos Privatization Approved!

2007-10-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

So the business news out of Vegas is that the Station Casinos are now officially approved to go forward as a private enterprise. http://www.lvrj.com/business/10666061.html But what exactly does that mean for the Slot Jockey?

Here's a clue - "Michael Green, a College of Southern Nevada history professor, said Station Casinos has already been aggressive in the locals market. But he said the deal could allow the company to be more flexible without having shareholders looking over its shoulder."

I only wish "flexible" meant looser slots, actually it means more Stations Casinos.

Here is a handy dandy Stations Casino timeline included in the article -

STATION CASINOS HISTORY
1976: Frank Fertitta, Jr. opens The Casino, a 5,000-square-foot, 100 slot machine locals gambling hall.
1977: Property renamed Bingo Palace.1984: Property renamed Palace Station.1985: Frank Fertitta III named general manager of Palace Station.
1993: February, Frank Fertitta Jr., retires; Frank Fertitta III named chairman. May, Station Casinos goes public with one major casino, price closes at $13.33 on first day.
1994: Boulder Station opens.
1995: Texas Station opens.
1997: Sunset Station opens.
1998: Acquires King 8 on Tropicana Avenue, changes name to Wild Wild West. 2000: • June, acquires Santa Fe for $205 million, changes name to Santa Fe Station.• July fined $1 million by Missouri Gaming Commission over bonuses paid to a St. Louis attorney who helped company obtain its gaming license. The company sold its riverboat operations in the state for $475 million.
2001:• January, acquires Fiesta Casino in North Las Vegas for $185 million, changes name to Fiesta Rancho.• January, acquires The Reserve for $70 million, changing name to Fiesta Henderson.• December, opens $300 million Green Valley Ranch, a 50-50 partnership with American Nevada Corp.2006:• April, $925 million Red Rock Resort opens.• December, Fertitta Colony Partners offer to take the company private at $82 per share.
2007:• February, Fertitta Colony Partners raise offer to current $90 per share, $5.4 billion.• February, Station Casinos breaks ground on $675 million Aliante Station. • August, shareholders approve buyout.

Jeez, that's a lot of casinos in a relatively short amount of time. Us locals must be suckers, or at least in love with gambling at any cost. I like to say I'm supporting the local economy, and leave it at that.

Check out the stock price that went from $13 to $90 in a little over 10 years. The best gamble would have been Stations stock.

As always, the rich get richer, and the locals get lint brushes. Well, I'm off to a Stations Casino to see how much free play the Fertittas think I deserve today. Wish me luck!

From Slot Jockey to Slot Junkie!

2007-10-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

A couple of days again the Las Vegas Review Journal printed an article I read with both vested interest and much amusement. http://www.lvrj.com/business/10521252.html

The headline screams -

GAMBLING ISSUES: Rise of slot machines decried Group calls for federal action, says states too dependent

WASHINGTON -- Slot machines are becoming increasingly deceptive and addictive and the federal government should investigate and regulate them, an anti-gambling group said Friday.

The first paragraph always gives you the summary of the article, but if you like to read, be my guest and peruse the entire column.

Slot Machines addictive?! Well, stop the presses, and news at eleven! Cigarettes bad for you?! Fast Food unhealthy?!

Who are they trying to kid . . . so the slot manufacturers build a better mousetrap and the casinos beat a path to their door. Is this really news? Still the thought of government regulation, should strike fear in the board at WMS, and IGT.

I could opine about how addictive I think these newfangled slots really are, but I'd much rather PLAY them.

Video reels, bonus rounds, immersion sensory transmissive whatchamacallits, they are still one-armed bandits, plain and simple and they are designed to take your money.

I did learn a lovely little bit of jargon from this article. I didn't know that when I was chasing my losses that I was "playing to extinction." I thought I was "just about even" my favorite euphenism for "broke."

I found this passage especially amusing -

Addicted gamblers are motivated more by a desire to escape than to be entertained, Schull said.
"Winning in fact -- this really struck me during my research -- becomes almost undesirable for these gamblers because what it does is it interrupts the flow of the gambling," Schull said.
"One gambler even told me she hated to win because it meant she had to sit there and wait for the change girls to come and fill the hopper," she said.

Word to Ms. Schull, you might want to talk to a slot player who has actually sat at a slot machine in the last few years. Hoppers are practically obsolete now with TITO (ticket in, ticket out) technology. Every now and again you might get a paper jam and require assistance, but change girls (perhaps she means "slot attendant"?) have gone the way of the dinosaur.

It is also idiotic to assume that just because you have won, you would really cash out. Obviously the gambler who hated to win was not "playing to extinction," at least not on the winning machine.

The article also notes that 90 percent of the addicted gamblers played video poker. I'm not a video poker player, so correct me if I'm wrong, but has video poker really changed that much?

So all and all, the article was filled with bad, old research, but the point it makes hold true. Slot Jockeys can soon become Slot Junkies, and that is just what the house and slot manufacturers are working for.

Should the government step in? Well, considering the financial damage done the average slot jockey, and what that could mean in lost taxes and the rising cost of social services, they probably will. If money is at stake, and of course, that is the heart of the matter, you can be damned sure Uncle Sam will demand his cut.

Style vs. Value in Downtown's Renaissance

2007-09-19T12:26:00.000-07:00

I've always enjoyed downtown Las Vegas, which is essentially the REAL Las Vegas, Las Vegas proper so to speak.

If you are on the strip chances are you are gambling in Paradise not Las Vegas. Now that doesn't sound bad, but be aware that you are more than likely outside of Sin City's limits.

A very brief history of modern Las Vegas would go something like this -- in 1905 at the corner of Main and Fremont Street a town is born. Liquor, gambling, and prostitution as well as a rail line fuel the growth. As the vices are outlawed a boomtown is stunted, but bides its time. Hallelujah! in 1931 gambling and booze are legal again and Fremont Street sizzles with excitement. In 1941 El Rancho Vegas, the first strip resort opens on the outskirts in the desert, the Last Frontier, and the Flamingo soon follow and the Strip (now capitalized and capitalizing) never look back. Downtown Las Vegas through the years begins to lose its lustre and is eventually outshined by the Strip.

For the past ten years of so, or since the erection of the "Fremont Street Experience" http://www.vegasexperience.com/downtown Las Vegas has struggled to thrive and re-invent itself.

One thing Las Vegas proper has always been known for is its value, i.e. if you don't mind walking around homeless people, drug addicts, and general down-and-outers, you might enjoy a cheap hotel, meal, beer, and just slightly better odds on your slot play.

And then there is the classic neon. Vegas Vic and his flirtatious cohort Vegas Vicky still greet you under the canopy of the "experience." The Neon museum http://www.neonmuseum.org/ has refurbished the Hacienda Vaquero and his gleaming Palomino, as well as many smaller classic neon signs and they are there to dazzle you with their vintage appeal.

Mayor Oscar Goodman's has unabashedly been Downtown's biggest supporter, and has ignored all criticism as he boldly forges ahead to make Las Vegas' rebirth as a great international city come to fruition.

To all the critics, I have to side with martini swilling Oscar and say "It's working."

There are definite signs of progress. The new Fremont Street East project, chock full of new vintage styled neon and pedestrian friendly sidewalks so far looks like a success. Businesses are started to pop up in the shadow of gleaming condominium towers. Dives such as the Gold Spike, and the Travel Inn have been sold and will be transformed into boutique hotels. Oscar's pet project the "Mob Museum" is hummin right along.

There is even hope for the albatross that is "Neonopolis" a spectacular failure by all accounts. Word is Telemundo might move its local studios and offices there.

The empty "Lady Luck" has also sold, and here is where the controversy of style vs. value in Downtown Las Vegas will really draw an audience.

I never stayed at the Lady Luck, and can't even remember crossing its threshold - mostly due to its location on third street, down a dark scary street beyond the canopy of safety. Even a couple of jr. executive types who worked there called it "a dive" when I asked them about it mid-beer one evening. But the Lady Luck had its supporters, and online it really didn't look half bad. In 2006 it shut down for renovations that never happened, and Oscar has famously referred to it as "that carcass outside my door," referring to his post across the street in city hall.

That is all about to change, as the new owners are rushing to draw up new plans for the aging lady, and even looking at buying up neighboring properties. The land rush in Downtown appears to be in full swing.

But what will the Lady Luck look like, and will Downtown's new urbanization destroy the blue-collar bastion that it has become?

The subject was covered today in the Review Journal.
http://www.lvrj.com/business/9872442.html I will some it up with the best quote of the story -
"All of us exist because of the casinos," said Nitura, whose daughter operates the beef-jerky store that also sells Hawaiian delicacies. "The faster we learn that, the better. Downtown should be honky-tonk. "The electricians, the carpenters, those are the kind of guys we want to have downtown. The other guys can go up to the Strip," he added.

As the construction continues, plenty of workers will be downtown. If they keep coming after their work is done to rub shoulders with doctors and lawyers, and hipsters will remain to be seen.

The RJ who has delighted in its Oscar attacks are going to have to eat at least some of their words. The plan is working, literally.

They say a rising tide lifts all boats, from the sleek yachts to the dingy dinghies.

As long as Binion's (recently sold to Terry Caudhill who owns the Four Queens) continues to send me free play, and hang on to at least some of its fabled frontier charm, I think the Honky Tonk will be alive and well in downtown.