Just got back from three days in Tunica. Things are changing -- not so
much in VP, but in who owns what.
Harrah's is no more. I actually cashed the last bounce-back coupon
there before they closed on Monday morning. They reopened Tuesday
under the name Resorts Tunica. No changes in VP inventory yet. The new
slot club is The R Card, which is supposed to work at all
Resorts-owned properties, including Bally's Tunica (see below), the LV
Hilton, and Resorts Atlantic city (still called "Resorts
International" by a lot of folks). Couldn't tell anything about
cash-back, as they are still pretty much on the Harrah's system.
However, they did say that points still on accounts from Harrah's
Tunica would be transferred to the Horseshoe -- interesting. Of
course, the Shoe, Sheraton and Grand, all former Caesars properties,
are under Harrah's control now. I asked the folks at the Shoe about
this, and they said all points would be transferred automatically on
or about May 12. The Shoe is a nice place with great table games --
unfortunately, their VP stinks.
Speaking of which, here's a database update: The $1 9/7 DB progressive
is MIA. The bar which housed these is under renovation and is closed.
No playable VP anywhere in the joint. Dang shame.
Bally's has kept its name and stayed open during the changeover
process -- a fascinating process to watch, as they shut down large
portions of the slot floor to remove coins and change out bins, all
under the watchful eye of gaming commission suits. Couldn't tell if
any inventory had changed because they were shut down while I was
there. They still have a 25-cent minimum craps game, though.
The Grand will be changing its name not too far down the road,
according to an assistant slot supervisor that I talked to. It will
either become Harrah's or Caesars. Harrah's would fit a mid-level
slot-playing clientele, but Caesars would be a better fit for their
table-games crowd. Hard to tell which one will win out.
One more inventory note: Sheraton has $1 PROG 15-9 DW and 8-5 JoB in
their high-limit area. It's combined with a number of other games that
I didn't check out on Game King multi-game slant-tops, eight in all.
Had a great trip. Hit four ducks on the DW progressive at the
Sheraton, then had four deuces *dealt* on BDW at Gold Strike --
couldn't pull up the ace kicker. Also had four aces dealt at GS -- but
just on 9/6 Jacks. Made about a grand on the trip.