vpFREE2 Forums

El Cortez notes and database update

#1

Spent Saturday nite at the El Cortez (I'm too classy for the
Bellagio). Did a little scouting:

The last five .25 Cortez Deuces on earth are huddled in the alcove
across from Roberta's Cafe, where there used to be a nosmoking
section, awaiting their inevitable execution. Go play them now; their
like will never be seen again (100.9%).
There are two--count 'em, two--$1 20/7 FP Joker remaining; they can be
found in the high limit area near the craps pit.
There's still plenty of FPJW at the .25 level, and at least two
machines at the .50 level, although EVERY time I've set foot in there,
they have been occupied by a woman who is two machines wide, and
consequently plays two machines. Anyway, they're across from the bar
that is next to Roberta's.
No standard FPDW remain; there is a smattering of .25 NSUD.
You can still find FPDB at .25, .50, and $1 scattered throughout the
casino.
ALL the multiplays suck rocks. Nothing even marginally worthwhile
exists at any denomination.
NB: Many of the best machines are older non-TITO's with a low 400-coin
machine-pay threshold. This results in a LOT of fills and hand pays.
The slot floorpeople run around like harried mice, but they're ALWAYS
behind. Management makes sure that, busy or slow, there's always just
barely enough people on the floor to do the job (piss off your
customers, but save $200/day. ??).
Cashback is .2, with comps at .25, although in actuality somewhat
better than that with the meal-earning promos (earn 1500 points, get
one dinner, earn 2500 points, get two dinner, and the points are NOT
deducted) and the room promos (stay there in July/Aug, get a free room
in Sept, and other giveaways).
Current promo, $10 gift cards, is somewhat deflated by the $300 VP
threshold (now, you can't get a card for quad A's on DB, SF on $1
FPJW, quads on $1 DB/DDB, etc.). NB: the best play for rapid gift card
snarfing is the 9/5 Super Double Bonus $1 machines near Roberta's.
Seven out of the thirteen possible quads get you a gift card. This
makes the gift cards worth about .25, enough to kick this game (99.6%)
into breakeven territory with slot club bennies.
Mailings are a monthly postcard with a triple points
you-choose-the-day, a free room for a night, and two free dinners for
two (Roberta's, and the coffee shop).
Parenthetically, I have never seen so many oddly-shaped people in one
location in my life. This is NOT Caesar's Palace, with the overstuffed
nouveau riche parading their blonde trophy wives, nor is it the Palms,
with underage bimbettes in little black dresses hoping their fake IDs
get them into Ghost Bar; think oxygen tanks, walkers, and people who
weigh more than Bolivia smoking cigars that were made from dead fish.

#2

I've updated the DataBase.

Many thanks for the report.

vpFREE Administrator

Refresh your browser before reading DataBase pages

···

On 18 Jul 2004 at 19:02, rockofjello333 wrote:

Spent Saturday nite at the El Cortez (I'm too classy for the
Bellagio). Did a little scouting ...

#3

When I have used the 2500 points for two dinners, my points were
deducted. Have they changed that? Also, my mailing for this month
was much like the old Plaza mailings with free nights, a $25
restaurant comp, and free ice creams. I hope they haven't change to
this as I thought the post cards were much better. Lisa

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "rockofjello333"
<rockofjello333@y...> wrote:

Spent Saturday nite at the El Cortez (I'm too classy for the
Bellagio). Did a little scouting:

The last five .25 Cortez Deuces on earth are huddled in the alcove
across from Roberta's Cafe, where there used to be a nosmoking
section, awaiting their inevitable execution. Go play them now;

their

like will never be seen again (100.9%).
There are two--count 'em, two--$1 20/7 FP Joker remaining; they

can be

found in the high limit area near the craps pit.
There's still plenty of FPJW at the .25 level, and at least two
machines at the .50 level, although EVERY time I've set foot in

there,

they have been occupied by a woman who is two machines wide, and
consequently plays two machines. Anyway, they're across from the

bar

that is next to Roberta's.
No standard FPDW remain; there is a smattering of .25 NSUD.
You can still find FPDB at .25, .50, and $1 scattered throughout

the

casino.
ALL the multiplays suck rocks. Nothing even marginally worthwhile
exists at any denomination.
NB: Many of the best machines are older non-TITO's with a low 400-

coin

machine-pay threshold. This results in a LOT of fills and hand

pays.

The slot floorpeople run around like harried mice, but they're

ALWAYS

behind. Management makes sure that, busy or slow, there's always

just

barely enough people on the floor to do the job (piss off your
customers, but save $200/day. ??).
Cashback is .2, with comps at .25, although in actuality somewhat
better than that with the meal-earning promos (earn 1500 points,

get

one dinner, earn 2500 points, get two dinner, and the points are

NOT

deducted) and the room promos (stay there in July/Aug, get a free

room

in Sept, and other giveaways).
Current promo, $10 gift cards, is somewhat deflated by the $300 VP
threshold (now, you can't get a card for quad A's on DB, SF on $1
FPJW, quads on $1 DB/DDB, etc.). NB: the best play for rapid gift

card

snarfing is the 9/5 Super Double Bonus $1 machines near Roberta's.
Seven out of the thirteen possible quads get you a gift card. This
makes the gift cards worth about .25, enough to kick this game

(99.6%)

into breakeven territory with slot club bennies.
Mailings are a monthly postcard with a triple points
you-choose-the-day, a free room for a night, and two free dinners

for

two (Roberta's, and the coffee shop).
Parenthetically, I have never seen so many oddly-shaped people in

one

location in my life. This is NOT Caesar's Palace, with the

overstuffed

nouveau riche parading their blonde trophy wives, nor is it the

Palms,

with underage bimbettes in little black dresses hoping their fake

IDs

get them into Ghost Bar; think oxygen tanks, walkers, and people

who

weigh more than Bolivia smoking cigars that were made from dead

fish.

#4

The info on the "Cortez Deuces" aka "Downtown Deuces" is incorrect. I
saw this post just before I left for LV and checked out the El Cortez
Monday morning. There has been NO change in these machines. Besides
the 5 mentioned in the post, there are 2 in the room across from the
ice cream counter and 3 close to the nearby the rest rooms. These 10
machines have been in the same spot for several months.

George in SF

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "rockofjello333" <rockofjello333@y...>
wrote:

···

Spent Saturday nite at the El Cortez (I'm too classy for the
Bellagio). Did a little scouting:

The last five .25 Cortez Deuces on earth are huddled in the alcove
across from Roberta's Cafe, where there used to be a nosmoking
section, awaiting their inevitable execution. Go play them now; their
like will never be seen again (100.9%).
There are two--count 'em, two--$1 20/7 FP Joker remaining; they can be
found in the high limit area near the craps pit.
There's still plenty of FPJW at the .25 level, and at least two
machines at the .50 level, although EVERY time I've set foot in there,
they have been occupied by a woman who is two machines wide, and
consequently plays two machines. Anyway, they're across from the bar
that is next to Roberta's.
No standard FPDW remain; there is a smattering of .25 NSUD.
You can still find FPDB at .25, .50, and $1 scattered throughout the
casino.
ALL the multiplays suck rocks. Nothing even marginally worthwhile
exists at any denomination.
NB: Many of the best machines are older non-TITO's with a low 400-coin
machine-pay threshold. This results in a LOT of fills and hand pays.
The slot floorpeople run around like harried mice, but they're ALWAYS
behind. Management makes sure that, busy or slow, there's always just
barely enough people on the floor to do the job (piss off your
customers, but save $200/day. ??).
Cashback is .2, with comps at .25, although in actuality somewhat
better than that with the meal-earning promos (earn 1500 points, get
one dinner, earn 2500 points, get two dinner, and the points are NOT
deducted) and the room promos (stay there in July/Aug, get a free room
in Sept, and other giveaways).
Current promo, $10 gift cards, is somewhat deflated by the $300 VP
threshold (now, you can't get a card for quad A's on DB, SF on $1
FPJW, quads on $1 DB/DDB, etc.). NB: the best play for rapid gift card
snarfing is the 9/5 Super Double Bonus $1 machines near Roberta's.
Seven out of the thirteen possible quads get you a gift card. This
makes the gift cards worth about .25, enough to kick this game (99.6%)
into breakeven territory with slot club bennies.
Mailings are a monthly postcard with a triple points
you-choose-the-day, a free room for a night, and two free dinners for
two (Roberta's, and the coffee shop).
Parenthetically, I have never seen so many oddly-shaped people in one
location in my life. This is NOT Caesar's Palace, with the overstuffed
nouveau riche parading their blonde trophy wives, nor is it the Palms,
with underage bimbettes in little black dresses hoping their fake IDs
get them into Ghost Bar; think oxygen tanks, walkers, and people who
weigh more than Bolivia smoking cigars that were made from dead fish.

#5

Thanks for the info!! I frequently stay/play at the EC, and these
were the machines in plcae last May., at my last visit. I was
dismayed at that time to find the bank of deuces near Robertas gone
as well as several in the main casino and additional ones near the
icecream bar. I guess they hit too much, even at the quarter level,
to stay in play. They used to have them in the Dollar Denom. also.
My husband loved to play the dollars and hit them several times. Of
course he is disappointed that they are MIA. I still can't figure
out why all the locals avoid the tito uprights that FPKJW? THey
play VERY fast. Abyway, they are always empty even when you you
can't get near the old Jokers. Does anyone know?

The info on the "Cortez Deuces" aka "Downtown Deuces" is

incorrect. I

saw this post just before I left for LV and checked out the El

Cortez

Monday morning. There has been NO change in these machines.

Besides

the 5 mentioned in the post, there are 2 in the room across from

the

ice cream counter and 3 close to the nearby the rest rooms. These

10

machines have been in the same spot for several months.

George in SF

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "rockofjello333"

<rockofjello333@y...>

wrote:
> Spent Saturday nite at the El Cortez (I'm too classy for the
> Bellagio). Did a little scouting:
>
> The last five .25 Cortez Deuces on earth are huddled in the

alcove

> across from Roberta's Cafe, where there used to be a nosmoking
> section, awaiting their inevitable execution. Go play them now;

their

> like will never be seen again (100.9%).
> There are two--count 'em, two--$1 20/7 FP Joker remaining; they

can be

> found in the high limit area near the craps pit.
> There's still plenty of FPJW at the .25 level, and at least two
> machines at the .50 level, although EVERY time I've set foot in

there,

> they have been occupied by a woman who is two machines wide, and
> consequently plays two machines. Anyway, they're across from the

bar

> that is next to Roberta's.
> No standard FPDW remain; there is a smattering of .25 NSUD.
> You can still find FPDB at .25, .50, and $1 scattered throughout

the

> casino.
> ALL the multiplays suck rocks. Nothing even marginally worthwhile
> exists at any denomination.
> NB: Many of the best machines are older non-TITO's with a low

400-coin

> machine-pay threshold. This results in a LOT of fills and hand

pays.

> The slot floorpeople run around like harried mice, but they're

ALWAYS

> behind. Management makes sure that, busy or slow, there's always

just

> barely enough people on the floor to do the job (piss off your
> customers, but save $200/day. ??).
> Cashback is .2, with comps at .25, although in actuality somewhat
> better than that with the meal-earning promos (earn 1500 points,

get

> one dinner, earn 2500 points, get two dinner, and the points are

NOT

> deducted) and the room promos (stay there in July/Aug, get a

free room

> in Sept, and other giveaways).
> Current promo, $10 gift cards, is somewhat deflated by the $300

VP

> threshold (now, you can't get a card for quad A's on DB, SF on $1
> FPJW, quads on $1 DB/DDB, etc.). NB: the best play for rapid

gift card

> snarfing is the 9/5 Super Double Bonus $1 machines near

Roberta's.

> Seven out of the thirteen possible quads get you a gift card.

This

> makes the gift cards worth about .25, enough to kick this game

(99.6%)

> into breakeven territory with slot club bennies.
> Mailings are a monthly postcard with a triple points
> you-choose-the-day, a free room for a night, and two free

dinners for

> two (Roberta's, and the coffee shop).
> Parenthetically, I have never seen so many oddly-shaped people

in one

> location in my life. This is NOT Caesar's Palace, with the

overstuffed

> nouveau riche parading their blonde trophy wives, nor is it the

Palms,

> with underage bimbettes in little black dresses hoping their

fake IDs

> get them into Ghost Bar; think oxygen tanks, walkers, and people

who

> weigh more than Bolivia smoking cigars that were made from dead

fish.

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "catcat94114" <wxmen@f...> wrote:

#6

My experience during two stays at the El Cortez during late June and
July is inconsistent with the information in rockofjello333's post.
Here is a listing of those that I found.

I stayed two nightss (June 23 and June 24) and three nights (July 5,
6 and 7). During both stays there were "Downtown Deuces" available
in the "Classic Slots" section located on the lower floor adjacent to
the ice-cream parlor. I didn't inventory them but saw several during
my walk-through. Quite some time ago these machines were moved from
the bank near the Keno Bar.

As far as Dollar FPKBJW, I have not seen the ones mentioned in
the "high-roller" area but there were the same number of machines
near the entrance to Roberta's as my previous visits. There are at
least four MG machines with Full Pay Jokers at the dollar level
there. The ones that I have played also have Full Pay Double Deuces
on them as well (16/13).

The "points for dinner" amounts reported are accurate but I have
always been charged points for these dinners. If someone has figured
out a way to get them without being charged I'd love to know the
procedure. :slight_smile: Also, during these last two visits, the "points for
dinner" offer for Roberta's has been discontinued.

My experience shows that the postcard offers mentioned have been
discontinued as well. The last one I received was in May with two
rooms good through June. My recent mailings were paltry in
comparison. In fact, I received a newsletter for July in the mail on
July 20th with one coupon for a triple point day good til the end of
July. Not much chance to use that one. :slight_smile:

Please note that I am not a local so it is possible that the locals
are still receiving postcard offers consistent with the original
report. I just wanted to share my experience for what value it might
have for the group.

Good luck to all,

Ray

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "rockofjello333" <rockofjello333@y...>
wrote:

snip--

The last five .25 Cortez Deuces on earth are huddled in the alcove
across from Roberta's Cafe...

snip---

There are two--count 'em, two--$1 20/7 FP Joker remaining; they can

be

found in the high limit area near the craps pit.

snip---

...the meal-earning promos (earn 1500 points, get

one dinner, earn 2500 points, get two dinner, and the points are NOT
deducted)

snip---

Mailings are a monthly postcard with a triple points
you-choose-the-day, a free room for a night, and two free dinners

for

two (Roberta's, and the coffee shop).

snip---

#7

My experience during two stays at the El Cortez during late June and
July is inconsistent with the information in rockofjello333's post.
Here is a listing of those that I found.

I stayed two nightss (June 23 and June 24) and three nights (July 5,
6 and 7). During both stays there were "Downtown Deuces" available
in the "Classic Slots" section located on the lower floor adjacent to
the ice-cream parlor. I didn't inventory them but saw several during
my walk-through. Quite some time ago these machines were moved from
the bank near the Keno Bar.

DATABASE DOUBLECHECK: As noted in a previous post, there are indeed
five more .25 Cortez Deuces scattered in the ice cream parlor area
beside the five that are in the former non-smoking alcove, bringing
the total to ten.

As far as Dollar FPKBJW, I have not seen the ones mentioned in
the "high-roller" area but there were the same number of machines
near the entrance to Roberta's as my previous visits. There are at
least four MG machines with Full Pay Jokers at the dollar level
there. The ones that I have played also have Full Pay Double Deuces
on them as well (16/13).

The Joker games on the $1 MGs have been recently downgraded to 18/7 or
17/7. You might have been here just before this happened.

Some of the MGs have 16/11 Double Deuces, which while fullpay, is not
a 100% game. The more generous 16/13/4700 Royal "Cortez Deuces" can no
longer be found at $1 denoms.

The "points for dinner" amounts reported are accurate but I have
always been charged points for these dinners.

I should have elaborated: there was a mailing that said that "due to
popular demand" the no-points cost dinners program was being extended.
During that same month they discontinued it, but if you asked, you
could still get it. It looks like the free dinners on the postcard are
all you get now. (Although the "points for dinners" is still a great
deal.)

My experience shows that the postcard offers mentioned have been
discontinued as well. The last one I received was in May with two
rooms good through June.

My most recent postcard arrived during the first week of July.

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "alaj38" <alajuela38@c...> wrote: