As I mentioned in an earlier trip report, my ladyfriend Lynda received
a voucher for two comp nights for the first week in January when we
checked out of the South Point in December. She also received via
email an offer for three comp nights at the new Encore for a few
select dates in January (I had previously received, and accepted, two
such offers at the Wynn). The result was five comp nights in Vegas. Whee!
Playing the 25c 9/6 Bonus Poker deluxe at South Point (99.6%), I was
soon up over $300. Since there is no version of Full-Pay Bonus Poker
Deluxe (although there could be with just a slight tweak to the
4-of-a-kind payout), I wanted to also play their FPDW (100.7%).
Unfortunately, just like last time, I lost in playing it, and quit
when I had fallen to $200 ahead. The next day, I played the 9/6 BPDlx,
but went down $200, so when I left the South Point I was even with
when I arrived.
The 25c Poker machines at the Encore appear to be the same as at the
Wynn. They mostly pay about 98%, or slightly less: 7/5 Bonus Poker,
25/15/10/4/3/2/ Deuces Wild, 9/6/5/ Double Bonus, 9/5/4/ Double Double
Bonus. Despite the poor odds, I played some Double Bonus to see if it
might get me another free invite sometime. Also, the Progressive on
these machines was ranging from $1400 -> 1700 -> over $2000. That, of
course, improves the overall payout. I chased the Royals for a while,
but didn't catch one, and lost a few hundred. Lynda received $150 in
free play as part of her offer (although she prefers to play Texas
Hold'Em), and lost much of it quickly playing a multi-hand game. I
pointed out the Progressive in the 25c machines, and suggested she
chase the Royal. She didn't catch it either, but did get a $100
4-of-a-kind in the Double Bonus (which I think gave her a newfound
respect for Video Poker!). She cashed out to have more money for poker
tournaments.
We visited the Santa Fe Station (out of the way, but I have relatives
who live nearby, and it's their favorite play spot). Actually, it's a
very nice casino, with some full-pay Optimum Play machines. She didn't
win in the poker tournament, although I did win a little playing the
10/7 Double Bonus. Later she came in second in a tournament at
Treasure Island, and took away about $300 for the next tournaments. I
ended up losing a few hundred on the trip, but still ahead of where I
started the previous trip.
The Suite at the Encore was by far the most luxurious I'd ever stayed
in. Just the color schemes were obviously carefully planned by top
interior designers. Stark blacks, muted ivories and tans, browns,
etc., all proclaim "elegance". Even the closet doors are solid
hardwood. But it's still a new places, and hasn't been fully
"debugged" yet. A power glitch took the elevators out of service for
more than an hour, stranding guests on whatever floor they were on.
For photos of the Encore, look here:
http://www.encorelasvegas.com/site.cfm?s=B#/homepage/
Robert