vpFREE2 Forums

EW and now CB finally downgrades last playable vp (.25 and lower)...

#1

I didn’t check higher denoms, but passing through (and was hoping to just renew ‘Silver’ tier (5000 base tier in 6 months Jan-June or July 1 - Dec 31) for following 6 months…

I checked and the 12 slants by Pints have been downgraded.

BP is now 6-5 (just like the nat’l 21 paying ‘SIX to FIVE’)…
ugly 2s (15-9) 98.9 is now down to 20-12 or the ugly 16-13 game (96%?)?

I couldn’t find one single playable “8-5 BP” vp machine in the whole place!

Now - granted, I didn’t bother with the higher denom (but a few- by the stairs heading up near Pints/Poker room end of the casino- may have had 7/5 BP for .50 or $1. UGH!

for those that like vp-torture, there is also the 9/5 DDB with progs on quads and higher.

Well - CBelle - it’s been a good run, and thanks for the memories. I no longer see any playable vp for comp/offers anymore in the future…

AMenities: Loading Dock restaurant/dinner buffet has vastly improved. Now it’s $13.99 bbq ribs (Baby back pork) and chicken. Side dishes decent, too. pasta dish, pork chops. Beef stew, mashed and gravy…

salad bar. could use a little more fruits selection.

Usually 1 soup - Cream of Mushroom on a Thursday evening.

Upstairs - even the locals (and poker dealers I talk with) aren’t sure what the plans are. Seems like a HUGE waste of space up there. escalators still work (most of the time) for those that are curious. Same old riverboat themed murals and such - great for memory photos - before they decide to tear all that down someday… Hey - does anyone remember when the Upstairs area even had playable games (vp)? Bartops in Mississippi Lounge too?

Bye-bye Belle/EW…

Martin.

#2

All video poker has been downgraded at both the Edgewater and the Belle.
I could not find any game above 99%, no matter the denomination.

I was there last week during a period when they would doubled my tier points
in order to help me maintain Gold Level. I only needed a few points but basically said good bye without making any effort. I was not staying there on the trip so
I had no problem just scouting and using my free play and monthly food voucher
at the Hickory Pit.

I talked to my host before noticing the downgrade of $1 and higher video poker.
We agreed that there would be little advantage for me to maintain a Gold level This is because offers and comps are mainly based upon your ADT. Even my past silver card got me a host (Belle) with room, food and Beverage based
upon my ADT.

However, with the changes, I saw no incentive to even earn the remaining few points needed to retain Gold status. I just said good bye after extensive scouting. I often get duplicate offers in Laughlin for concerts, but the Belle/Edgewater easily were the most generous with concert tickets.

Yea, I remember the “full pay deuces wild” upstairs at the Belle, among other
playable games. That was before the selling to Marnell’s and the quick destruction of their playable video poker.

I will let my host know why we, and some other specific customers I will mention, will not be be back. Nothing personal, but just business. Edgewater and Belle are
no longer competitive in Laughlin. When I think of specific plays, I now rate the Belle last on the River, with Edgewater just slightly higher for a very questionable reason. Also, there is not much for me in some of the Laughlin casinos. However, even the Pioneer, Nugget and River Palms might have one or two machines I would be willing to play a little, but the count is now “zero” for both the Edgewater and the Collorado Belle.

Bob

#3

I empathize with both of you. What’s left of the VP machines at EW/CB have been downgraded for at least two years now, maybe three. However the last time I checked (this past spring) the paybacks are still ok for $1 denom. but now, according to Bob that’s no longer the case. Remember when the CB used to have 2 or 3 banks of slant tops in front of the River Bar? No more. Replaced by tables, chairs and a bandstand. I heard from a casino host (years ago) wanting me to come down and play but I basically told him there was nothing there for me anymore.

I still get offers in the mail but pay very little attention to them. Sad because I have fond memories and really used to enjoy the place.

#4

Do remember those bartops. Also, bartops downstairs and getting a gold card when we went to Laughlin.

We are pretty much down to one casino on the river. To think we were planning to move to bullhead city back-in-the -day.

#5

It is just sad to see the current state of video poker in Laughlin now. I had not been to Laughlin in more than three years, but made a trip in April. I was surprised to find that my gold level card was still in effect after all this time of inactivity at the Belle. I too remember the good days, but those times are gone forever. I was just cleaning out my gambling drawer and found an old “white” level dining card from the CB. Remember those? It gave me free dining at the Orleans Room, Mississippi Lounge, Boiler Room, Mark Twian’s, Paddlewheel and the Captain’s Buffet. All those dinning choices are gone except for the Boiler Room which is now Pints.

I too had seriously considered making a home purchase in Bullhead as an investment and part time winter escape. I had a place picked out and brought my wife along for approval. Prices of homes were about 50% of the prices here, but we decided it was not a good idea for us. Whew.

I live much closer to Reno/Tahoe and they still offer fine video poker. I don’t see any reason to visit Laughlin anymore with such a long drive for me.

#6

Hi there Ham

Very interesting. I totally forgot about Reno & area. Been 25 years since there. Have fond memories, was there during a 50s weekend of some kind. At least a lot of old cars. If I remember right.

Laughlin? Back in the day, I traveled Vegas about every 6 weeks. Usually stayed 7-10 days. We stayed Frontier and drove down to Laughlin for one nite over about every other time in vegas. Rooms were so easy to get in Vegas, we never bothered to check out of Frontier. I seem to remember getting a room in Laughlin for less than a roll of quarters, before getting players card at Harrahs. I do remember playing a progressive at bar in Colorado Belle. It usually stopped a $10,000, $1 JOB. this time it ran over and climbed up to about $10,500 and all of a sudden jackpot jumped back to $10.000. Some locals went crazy and sought out management. About 1/2 hr later jackpot was restored to the higher amount. There was better progressives in Vegas then, but going to Laughlin was a vacation from “Vegas Vacation”.

Some time we stayed at Harrahs. I liked the beach on the river. Geez, I thought I was down at the shore. There was a restaurant in lower level. It was Mexican themed. A 3 piece group sang and played guitar or fiddle, from table to table. It was a fun town. By the way, Is the river swim area still white beach sand?

Cheers…Jeep

#7

“I live much closer to Reno/Tahoe and they still offer fine video poker”

But Reno/Tahoe is not a place for a winter escape. Vegas about the only option for a winter home that has decent VP. And the odds are better that fair bets will stay-around. But the traffic and summer’s suck.

Looks like we are going to move to puget sound and continue monthly flights to Nevada. Prices around puget sound are about half of here in Boston. No/little snow, <half the distance to Vegas/Reno; no jet lag.

Washington VP is totally rigged so might have to learn table games.