With Chicago area as the home base, the weekend of 7-19 it was off to
St Louis armed with some of the knowledge you folks have given me.
Where to look for the machines I wanted and how to best deal with the
strange $500 loss law in Missouri. Arriving at Harrahs around 1pm we
got checked in and I knew I needed a Missouri TR players card to get
into the casino and a special card to get into the Diamond parking
garage.Learned the hard way in Council Bluffs that swiping your
Diamond players card to get into the parking garage doesn't work.
Many irate gamblers behind me as I was trying that. Oh well. Couldn't
see any lines at Total Rewards accept Gold and Platinum so stood in
one of those to get my new plyers card. When I finally got service
she explained to me where the Diamond services both was. Oh well
again. Then it was the quest for the 9/6 JoB VP. One on the island
side and one by the noodle bar I think I was told. Never did find the
noodle bar but after spending quite a while on both casino sides I
was ready to give up until I took a better look at the one in the
bank of VP machines right in front of me. 99.6% payback Jacks or
Better. I felt like all those idiots in the movie "It's a Mad Mad Mad
Mad World" as they spend the whole movie looking for treasure under
a "Big "W" and all end up arguing as the the "Big W" is shown larger
than life in the backgound behind them. I think I may have even heard
that majestic music as I went over to check it out. It was what it
said it was and no one was playing it. Started by putting in $400. At
no time would any machine ever take more than that. I never had an
issue with the loss law however. My companion however did. She
prefers that stinkin DDB which is too volatile for me. I gave her one
of my tickets and it never was an issue again after that. Ate at the
buffet which was a bit dissapointing. It was very impressive but
maybe a little too upscale for our tastes. They ran out of plates,
long lines and were out of some of the few things that I was in the
mood to eat. Oh well again. They treated us very well. We are both
just low end Diamond players but very good treatment by everyone
there. Best as I could tell that bank of about 12 machines was the
only place that had a 9/6 JoB machine. Had these denominations
(.25/.50/$1/$2). Also in this bank and at those denominations were
8/5 BP, 9/6 DDB, and 9/7 DB. Couldn't get on that machine after
dinner so played some pNSUD which are plentiful at 50 cents and
above. Went to bed early and played that 9/6 JoB game again around
3am until they closed. Worked for me. Made a stop in Peoria on the
way home for a nice "down home" buffet and collect on another offer
from them and then home to Chicago. A nice trip.
The next weekend it was off to Caesars......oh sorry Horseshoe
Southern Indiana. The remodeling is just about completed. 1st floor
is open again. My first thought was that there was plenty of VP
there, but that's not the case. Place was packed due to cash drawings
and a concert. I was able to play in the afternoon but after a great
dinner at Binions Steakhouse there was next to nothing to play. VP or
anything else. There is still a lot of 9/6 JoB in multiple
denominations. VP on the top floor and in high limits is poor. There
is however one bank of about 6 machines on the top floor against the
wall by the bar that are all $1 I beleive. Progressive royals, 8/5
BP, 9/6 DDB, 9/7 DB and pNSUD. The JoB however was lowered to 9/5 at
this progressive bank.This bank and in the high limit area are the
only places that even have the pNSU deuces. The rest of the place has
that horrible (1/2/2/3/4/10/13/) version. Still a great property, and
great treatment from all there. Diamond lounge is vey good there
also. Friday night is free alcohol, food and whatever else is there.
Place was also packed and I was not about to stand in line
for...........anything. Also there are no more self serve soft drink
stations. That's another dissapointment for us. Two days there and
back home to Chicago. French lick and the two Indianapolis racinos
are not worth stopping at on the way home.
Finally the new Horseshoe Hammond barge today. If you are thinking of
going.....don't, not yet anyway. It is beautiful though. Looks like
the 25 cent, progressives with 9/6 JoB, 8/5 BP, NSUD, 9/6 DDb are all
gone. There are going to be a lot of $1 9/6 JoB machines. That's a
good thing. As it was before you could play those .25 9/6 JoB or $2/
$5/$10 triple plays in the high limit area. Those in the high limit
area are a little out of my "comfort zone". Computers were down so
I'm not even sure if my points earned on the machine went into my
account. Here is a new one I spotted on the way out. It was a $1
Deuces Wild game. Now get this. (1/2/3/4/4/11/15/25/200/300)That
figures to 99.9 if my old Win Poker is correct. I need to go back and
double check that but it looks like a pretty good game. Have to start
pacticing the strategy.The place is nice all right but wait a while,
not much VP is working as of this morning. Good luck all. Sorry for
the length of this.
SDboy