Private email to vpFae:
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: Ownership changed about 6 weeks ago. Roger Whittenberg is now
the primary partner and CEO of the new group ownership.
: Gone is the long standing $29 midweek rooms that included free
breakfast for all room occupants. You could obtain this deal for
2500 points ($2500 cash-in) through the players club. The new
rate (midweek) is $79 and no free breakfast. You can exchange
(through the players club) 7900 points, but due to recent
reduction in comps (now .667) it takes about $11,856 cash-in to
obtain those points. (BTW) They don't tell you about the policy
changes when you call for reservations, but enforce them upon
arrival.
: Gone is the long standing, late night-early morning Steak and
egg special for $2.99 (or 299 points) requiring only $299 action.
The new rate is $12.99, or about $1947 action (through the
players booth) for the comp.
: Gone is the free $2.00 roll of nickels (senior special) for
coffee shop diners, and the items offered have been either
dropped, or increased by $2-$3 in price. That is for meatloaf, or
spaghetti type items. Hot sandwiches formerly $5-$7 range are now
$9-$10 range. I had a chicken sandwich that was over $10.00 with
tax. It sat under the heat lamps for about 10 minutes despite
about 5 servers on the floor and only 2 other customers in the
coffee shop. It was about the equal to a Carl's Jr, if it had not
been dried under the heat lamps. You use to receive a coupon good
for $10 free play if you hit a jackpot, or VP hand of $50 or more
value, for eating in the coffee shop....That has been (also)
taken away.
: Worse still....I was in there monday (Feb 10th) and they were
in the process of removing all full-pay....MIA are all the
Quarter, Dime and Nickel FP JB (formerly in the MD
nickel-dime-quarter-50 cent-dollar) replaced by 8/5 (quarters)
and 7/5 (dimes and nickels)....The $1 (9/6 JB) and the 50 cent
(9/6 JB) pay lines have been changed...Some to 8/5, and some are
still 9/6, but with only 2500 for the royal. I was able to find
one machine still untouched, but they probably had just not yet
got to it. (BTW) I did not bother to check upstairs machines,
because they are removing them to build a ice cream and sandwich
shop orientated for families with kids.
: It's the same small dingy rooms with permanently stained
ground-in dirt worn carpets, light fixtures that don't work,
trickle showers, bedspreads that smell like body odor, no air
conditioner, dated/worn-out furnishings (and mattresses with
world's worst pillows. The heat thermostats don't work (it's just
an illusion) because the front desk actually has a system that
controls heat to the rooms, and they are stingy. My room never
got to 60 degrees, and that's tough when you get out of the
shower.
: This property is old and worn out....not worthy of a single
star, and they are acting like it's a 4 or 5 star property. I saw
a player (recognised from previous trips) asking (politely) about
why his favorite machines were changed. They told him they did
not want him to play there any more. Word is they have angered
many locals and regulars, by 86ing them if they question any
change they have made. It was a ghost town for my visit. Only
about 30 of the 100 rooms were occupied, and they were not
playing. The employees (many long time) are disgruntled ( tips
have gone to hell) many have left, and others are looking for
opportunities elsewhere.
: Problem is the other (smaller) casinos across the street have
long relied on the Biltmore overflow, because they don't have the
rooms or budget to promote, and they are suffering also. There is
now OFFICIALLY ...NO FULL PAY MACHINES... on the north shore of
Lake Tahoe. I'm told Cal-Neva has closed all table games and
their casino is open only 3 days per week. I did not get down
there to confirm, but consider the source reliable.
: The new Biltmore owners are new to the gaming industry, and
(seemingly) do not know the damage they have done to themselves
and the entire area. In my 30+ years of playing... I've never
seen a casino flop because they offered too much to their
players....but have seen many casinos go under because they were
too stingy. Still, this one takes the cake. It's a train wreck in
progress that might ultimately close all North Shore Casinos
(with the exception of the Hyatt, which has a different customer
base, and is not located next to the remainder of the casinos).