vpFREE2 Forums

Carnage in Colorado

#1

This year has seen some terrible changes for video poker players in
Black Hawk/Central city.

First was the point rate cut for VP at Fortune Valley ($2 to earn a
point vs the old $1), slashing the cashback in half.

Next was Ameristar taking over Mountain High casino. The cashback
rate for VP was slashed, and multipoint days are virtually
non-existent now.

Now the Lodge (which also owns the Gilpin) has decimated their VP
inventory. Over the last few weeks, 52 VP machines with good
paytables have been downgraded. They used to have a great inventory,
now it's one of the worst. The guess is that Gilpin is next on their
slash list.

Then there's word (rumor at this point, but pretty solid) that
Colorado Central Station will follow Fortune Valley and raise the VP
point rate to $2/pt from the current $1/pt, effectively cutting the
cashback in half.

There could be many reasons for all this, but for a long time it's
been my belief that the propogation of video poker 'experts' armed
with easy information takes a bigger and bigger bite out of the
casino's profits, and eventually they fight back by lowering paytables
and slashing benefits.

Something to consider.

#2

This year has seen some terrible changes for video poker players in
Black Hawk/Central city.

A general AMEN to that!

First was the point rate cut for VP at Fortune Valley ($2 to earn a
point vs the old $1), slashing the cashback in half.

My last visit (6/28), it seemed like things had changed, or just got
more confusing. Played after 9PM to get triple cash. Machine said
455 pts, boothling said 910. Cash back was still 0.75% during promo,
0.25% otherwise.

Next was Ameristar taking over Mountain High casino. The cashback
rate for VP was slashed, and multipoint days are virtually
non-existent now.

Now the Lodge (which also owns the Gilpin) has decimated their VP
inventory. Over the last few weeks, 52 VP machines with good
paytables have been downgraded. They used to have a great inventory,
now it's one of the worst. The guess is that Gilpin is next on their
slash list.

Not much at the Gilpin already.

Any new MIAs at the lodge? I know they downgraded their 25c NSUD,
anything else?

Then there's word (rumor at this point, but pretty solid) that
Colorado Central Station will follow Fortune Valley and raise the VP
point rate to $2/pt from the current $1/pt, effectively cutting the
cashback in half.

I wouldn't mind too much if they offered better games. As it is, I
haven't played there for quite a while, and neither has my wife (who
plays the pennies, if anyone from CC is reading).

There could be many reasons for all this, but for a long time it's
been my belief that the propogation of video poker 'experts' armed
with easy information takes a bigger and bigger bite out of the
casino's profits, and eventually they fight back by lowering paytables
and slashing benefits.

Something to consider.

Probably right. But I still think this is somewhat short-sighted of
the casinos. The 'experts' bring family and friends up with them, who
are often not VP skilled or play other games and could balance things
out. Also, good VP keeps the seats filled, and I always try to tip
well. Empty seats mean unhappy employees, which leads to bad
experiences and more empty seats. The casinos seem to forget that
there are some economic advantages to offering good games.

- John

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--- In vpFREE_Colorado@yahoogroups.com, "VP Animal" <vpanimal@...> wrote: