Since it is so quiet around here, I'll post about our first slot tournament at Atlantis during our January visit. Our monthly offers consist of $100 free play, 3 free nights, and entries into both of their $40,000 slot tournaments. This has been consistent for the last several months. We have not entered one before because of having a hard time using frequent flyer miles or getting low priced air-fare during the tournament dates. Also, the fact that Atlantis doesn't mail us our monthly offers for the following month until the 15th of the current month. But, a trip we scheduled for January a few months back happen to co-inside with one of their tournament dates, so we signed up.
It was a typical tournament with three 15 minute rounds of play over two days. Since we only get one combined offer a month, only one tournament entry was allowed for us. No problem. Either of us could play any round, and both of us could feast on the snacks available to all players, and the free buffet coupon they supplied was for two, so that was nice too.
Being video poker players, it's hard to get too excited about playing any slots, but it was entertaining. We had one decent round, and had hopes of finishing in the money somewhere. The winners were anounced at the Stage bar the second afternoon. Video monitors in the area showed the winners of about 10th place to 120th place. We ended up in 71st place for a win of $25 in free play. Cool, got a little extra money and snacks and dinner and entertainment from out first tourney.
Now, after the winners are announced, they start giving away cash as like door prizes. You have 'virtual' tickets that you earn with your gaming over the two days. They first gave away $100 in cash to about 25 people, and I was lucky enough to have my name drawn! Nice, a great bonus. Then they started giving away a couple of $500 prizes, a couple of $1000 prizes and one or two $2500 prizes. I though about leaving the area after I won my $100, because I thought that would negate me from being available for the other cash prizes. And I am pretty sure it would have. But, as I watched the other drawings occur, I was shocked when my wife's name popped up for one of the $1,000 cash prize! Wow! I just assumed that since we only had one combined entry to the tournament, we would have only one set of entries into the drawings, but not so.
Well, that was certainly an enjoyable trip. We only lost a little gambling on the trip so the $1,125 bonus put us well ahead.
Now, I was able to contact my host Kiana, and find out ahead of time the dates for the April tournaments, and I was able to get frequent flyer tickets for those dates, so we'll be there again in another tournament on April 9. I doubt we will have the same kind of luck. But if you are going to be there during a free tournament, then you may as well take advantage of it! We sure will!
Luck to all,
Mike in Little Rock