vpFREE2 Forums

Barring at the El Cortez

#1

I think vegasvpplayer hit it on the head when he said " I think my main crime was allowing too much cashback to accumulate in my account ". Anything that makes a suit part of the transaction is asking for trouble. $2000 in cb at El Cortez is going to attract attention. $2000 in cb at almost any casino will attract attention.

Why not take out $300 or $400 at a time?

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#2

The EC is one of my favorite places to play. I love the old Grind
Joint. I've had many, many RF's, 4 ducks and 5OAK's there over the
years.

However, I'm also well aware of their idiosyncrasies and what pushes
their "hot button". The two things that are almost sure to earn a
player a visit with a suit (sometimes accompanied by a couple of
security guys) are: (a) Only playing on a X points day and taking
out substantial CB on the same day, for several visits in a row, (b)
Taking out a large amount of CB at one time.

There is NO good reason to permit CB to accumulate. It doesn't
accrue interest. Since you can withdraw up to $150 in CB, w/o a
suit signing off on the transaction, don't ever allow more than that
amount to remain in your club account.

If you are leaving the CB for the proverbial "rainy day", a MUCH
better idea is to open a savings account, at your local bank, and
deposit all your CB from every casino, in that account. This little
windfall savings account, can serve as your rainy day bankroll, if
necessary. Not only will you accrue some interest on your money,
but YOU will be in charge of your own funds.

Each time, before I leaving the EC for the airport, I draw out all
my CB, except perhaps $20.00. Using this method, I have never had a
problem getting my money.

The only time that I was ever visited and interrogated by a suit,
was before I was aware of their foibles, and requested a CB amount
of $350. I did receive the money, but I was rather uncomfortable
being questioned by the suit. I didn't enjoy his phoney smile as he
gratuitously commented, "Hmmmm. You're sure having a good time,
aren't you?" As he perused the computer screen, noting my wins.

So, for those who enjoy playing at the EC, I would caution against
leaving more than $200 in the account, or trying to withdraw more
than $150.

~Babe~

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--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, greeklandjohnny@... wrote

I think vegasvpplayer hit it on the head when he said " I think my
main crime was allowing too much cashback to accumulate in my
account ". Anything that makes a suit part of the transaction is
asking for trouble. $2000 in cb at El Cortez is going to attract
attention. $2000 in cb at almost any casino will attract attention.

Why not take out $300 or $400 at a time?

#3

Hummm...I guess I better take this warning seriously although I don't play at the EC. We had decided to not pick up any more CB this year since our profit is already "too high," considering taxes. But then there are other reasons for picking up CB regularly - the reason we don't buy green bananas!!! :slight_smile:

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"FRUGAL VIDEO POKER" - Pre-pub
orders for this new book now taken at
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#4

A few years ago, my wife and I walked into the old San Remo and played Blackjack. We play using positive progression (I know, it's not suppose to work but it does for us) and My wife won $300, I was even. We had a show to go to so we went to cash in the chips and the cashier had to call upstairs and we had to wait for 15 minutes before they would cash the $300. If we were cheating, it would have been for a lot more than 3 Franklins.

We weren't walked but I'm sure we were put on some sort of list. No wonder the casino was nearly empty.

Chet

greeklandjohnny@aol.com wrote: I think vegasvpplayer hit it on the head when he said " I think my main crime was allowing too much cashback to accumulate in my account ". Anything that makes a suit part of the transaction is asking for trouble. $2000 in cb at El Cortez is going to attract attention. $2000 in cb at almost any casino will attract attention.
  
Why not take out $300 or $400 at a time?

···

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#5

El Cortez ... This thread has got me thinking since I have been playing at EC for the past 3+ years and have not taken any cash back but use my card for "free" breakfasts and dinners. Do the breakfasts/dinners count against any cashback that I have accumulated? Also, my "luck" has been different than yours -- no royals but many 4 ducks. Last play was 2 weeks ago when I was down about $900 but hit the ducks twice within an hour. :slight_smile:

I never worried about cashback since I only had $10 CB after my first trip. I have not checked with the booth since then but definitely will on the next trip.

Also, the duck machines are really getting bad. Have to press hold twice a number of times to get them to hold. Two machines only take almost brand-new currency since the older ones get rejected. Out of frustration, I went over to Binions and played FPDW for a few hours. Not the same atmosphere or friendly staff though. :frowning:

Majestic Star ....... Just came back from a business trip to Chicago and went to the Majestic (Gary, IN) twice to play their NSUD machines. They have one of the worst buffets that I have ever encountered. Only thing edible was the fried chicken. One night, there were no plates available for over 20 minutes. Patrons used the dessert plates until they ran out of those too. The only saving point for the trip (NSUD was not friendly to me) was the Chicago hotdogs especially at Portillos (sp??), the steaks, and the bars (reminds me of Western PA).

Bob

jackessiebabe <jackessiebabe@yahoo.com> wrote: The EC is one of my favorite places to play. I love the old Grind
Joint. I've had many, many RF's, 4 ducks and 5OAK's there over the
years.

So, for those who enjoy playing at the EC, I would caution against
leaving more than $200 in the account, or trying to withdraw more
than $150.

~Babe~

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#6

at EC for the past 3+ years and have not taken any cash back but use
my card for "free" breakfasts and dinners. Do the
breakfasts/dinners count against any cashback that I have
accumulated?

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--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Robert Romanyshyn <bobfpdw@...> wrote:

This thread has got me thinking since I have been playing

============================================
Yes. If you use your Jackie's Card to pay for a meal, the points
are deducted from your card. Therefore, the deducted points cannot
be used for CB.

Also, the duck machines are really getting bad. Have to

press hold twice a number of times to get them to hold. Two
machines only take almost brand-new currency since the older ones
get rejected. Out of frustration, I went over to Binions and played
FPDW for a few hours. Not the same atmosphere or friendly staff
though. :frowning:

Please, please don't complain about the very few Downtown Deuces
machines still in service. Sticky buttons and slowness aside, I
still LOVE these rapidily disappearing beauties. I fear that the EC
will use complaints of this kind as an excuse to remove them
entirely. I also enjoy the regular FP DDW machines, and am
concerned that they too, will soon be MIA.

Majestic Star ....... Just came back from a business trip

to Chicago and went to the Majestic (Gary, IN) twice to play their
NSUD machines. They have one of the worst buffets that I have ever
encountered.

I'm sorry about the horrid buffet you encountered. I know nothing
whatever about any local Chicago casinos. I do 100% of my playing
in Nevada.

I can tell you though, that Chicago has some of the best restaurants
in the world. From famous 5* restaurants to Chicago Pizza and Hot
Dogs and the glories of the neighborhood ethnic restaurants, there
is no city where you can enjoy better dining.

Yes, I have dined in NYC, New Orleans and San Francisco as well as
Paris and Rome. And, Chicago chauvinist that I may be, I do believe
this to be true.

the Chicago hotdogs especially at Portillos (sp??),

Bob

Your spelling is right on!
  
Come back soon for some Mid-Western hospitality, and some great
food, if not great gambling.

~Babe~

#7

Would you believe you dined at the MS buffet after it had improved? :wink:
Dining and amenities are not a strong suit of any of the Chicago area
casinos (IMO), but you sampled the worst. I think if MS cleaned up their
food service act they'd get a lot more roller action. Purchase sustenance
in the city. Since you've tried the dog, next time get yourself a "beef."

Chandler

···

-----Original Message-----
From: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vpF…@…com]On Behalf Of
Robert Romanyshyn
Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 3:21 PM
To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [vpFREE] Re: Barring at the El Cortez & Majestic Star

Majestic Star ....... Just came back from a business trip to Chicago and
went to the Majestic (Gary, IN) twice to play their NSUD machines. They
have one of the worst buffets that I have ever encountered. Only thing
edible was the fried chicken. One night, there were no plates available for
over 20 minutes. Patrons used the dessert plates until they ran out of
those too. The only saving point for the trip (NSUD was not friendly to me)
was the Chicago hotdogs especially at Portillos (sp??), the steaks, and the
bars (reminds me of Western PA).

Bob

#8

Would you believe you dined at the MS buffet after it had improved? :wink:
Dining and amenities are not a strong suit of any of the Chicago area
casinos (IMO), but you sampled the worst. I think if MS cleaned up

their

food service act they'd get a lot more roller action. Purchase

sustenance

in the city. Since you've tried the dog, next time get yourself a

"beef."

Not 100% true at all. I'd say the Harrah's Joliet and Horseshoe
buffets are ok, and there is nothing wrong with Jack Binion's Steak
House. Grand Vic and Hollywood is fair. In the past, if you're not a
local, you can eat pretty much anywhere in Chicagoland, bring your
recipts in and your Horseshoe host will reimburse you (although
there's probably a RC charge now).

Some of the food there is absolutely brutal, I will agree with you on
that.

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Chandler" <omnibibulous1@...> wrote:

_______________________________________________________________________

paladingaming.net

#9

I have probably made this post before. Maybe it's a matter of taste. Maybe
it's a matter of perspective. I can drive ten minutes to hundreds of very
good restaurants and I can walk minutes from my front door to dozens. Many
of them offer more interesting food, better value and service than any
casino dining option in the area. Yes, the buffets at Horseshoe and even
Harrah's are OK, and I know Jack's is OK. At least Jack made use of the
lakefront when he was designing his facility. They do not offer the same
value or quality that one can find in many casinos in Las Vegas and if
paying in real dollars they don't compete well with restaurants in the city.
Their customers are captive and don't have a lot of choice, and it shows in
the product. And in the Chicago area the customer comes to gamble and
dining in their mind is the after thought, while in Nevada the customer
often comes to have a meal and the gambling is the after thought. If the
boat dining options work for me, it is because they are convenient and
comped, not because they offer value or quality. That said, I'll cut
Majestic a little slack today. Their star is on the rise in my book for
reasons other than dining.

Chandler

···

-----Original Message-----
From: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com [mailto:vpF…@…com]On Behalf Of
paladingamingllc
Sent: Sunday, August 20, 2006 4:08 PM
To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [vpFREE] Re: Barring at the El Cortez & Majestic Star

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Chandler" <omnibibulous1@...> wrote:

Would you believe you dined at the MS buffet after it had improved? :wink:
Dining and amenities are not a strong suit of any of the Chicago area
casinos (IMO), but you sampled the worst. I think if MS cleaned up

their

food service act they'd get a lot more roller action. Purchase

sustenance

in the city. Since you've tried the dog, next time get yourself a

"beef."

Not 100% true at all. I'd say the Harrah's Joliet and Horseshoe
buffets are ok, and there is nothing wrong with Jack Binion's Steak
House. Grand Vic and Hollywood is fair. In the past, if you're not a
local, you can eat pretty much anywhere in Chicagoland, bring your
recipts in and your Horseshoe host will reimburse you (although
there's probably a RC charge now).

Some of the food there is absolutely brutal, I will agree with you on
that.

_______________________________________________________________________

paladingaming.net

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