Day 1 -
Early flight to Reno. Taxied to Peppermill at 10:45AM.
Staying here for a full week.
Hard to believe I was able to check IN to my nice upper floor Pepp tower corner suite at 11AM!
I scurried to the casino floor and blazed thru $500 in freeplay before noon playing multi-line quarters.
After only 20 min I had escalated to playing 50c credits and drew a Royal Flush on one line, holding 3RF. Nice start of trip.
UP $1500 and my self-reward is my usual breakfast at the cafe counter.
It
seems the casino and hotel have remodeled: anything that wasn’t marble is now marble. Walls, restrooms, miniwalls. All White. Like a mausoleum.
restart gaming at 2:00 & by 5:00 I’ve piddled away that Royal profit and I am into my OWN money, fer chrissakes.
I discover a 50-line machine that has the same paytables as I play elsewhere all over the casino floor, IF I play 25c denom.
As 50 x 5 x $.25 is over $60 PER DEAL, I figure out that I’ll just play 25 lines.
A Royal Flush showed up on one line for $1000.
Had to search the screen to find it.
No frozen machine, no music, no hand pay.
Just a little ol’ $1000 Royal sneaking into my draw results.
Back in the black.
I also hit a AAAA2 on 25c DDB for $500.
I grab a sammich from the sports book deli, take it to my room.
The
knock on my door means room service is delivering my host’s gift: the all-important bottle of Baileys (1 liter- yay) plus a 12 pack of Aquafina water in two buckets of ice. Perfect. I’m set for the week.
Re-energized,
I decide to take a taxi to the two other casinos that give me freeplay-
Silver Legacy is $100 - but after I play 3 line dollars for seven spins, (3 x 5 x $1 x 7 = $105) I only got $50 left so I cash it out. That should cover taxi fare. I hit the gift shop to spend $75 of my resort credits on 7 cigars.
The
taxi driver is waiting, and we’re off to GSR for a $250 freePlay stop 'n rob. I haven’t used my player card there in years, so it takes the boothling some time to reset my PIN and give me a new card so I can download my freeplay at a machine.
I play single line $1 DDB 9/6,
I hit quads for $250. I cash out $440. Taxi driver is still waiting, whew, so he steps on it before casino marketing can catch me and I tip him $25 for his patience. Fare was $34 for the round trip. A profitable freeplay dash & cash, up $430 total. The taxi driver enjoyed my “bankrobber” ethos. “F* them” said he. Yee Haaa.
8:15 back at pepps video poker.
I’ll
just mention 3 things that bugged me in my evening session without much elaborating: a loud drunk hyper tweaker lady with an annoying voice, telling a tablemate how to play blackjack; a gang of middle-aged Chinese slot players yabbering nonstop and a couple old geezers trying to get around the casino- one guy was nearly walking on all fours he was so hunched over, the other could only shuffle along taking 6" baby steps, causing a
traffic jam in the aisle near the buffet. It was almost a dance, but it
made me sad for them.
ME? I had steady drain from my money pocket for the rest of the evening,
one more AAAA2 for $500 was all to note,
and I quit down 1200 on the day at 11:15.
···
==========
day 2
got six hours sleep, up & gaming at 10:45AM
about 2 1/2 hrs into ‘it’, down over 1000,
this draw put me back to even:
Ten-line x 25c Deuces wild
I hit two red four digit hands of 2222 for $500 each.
another 2222 a few hands later out me UP for a short while.
after
a down hour, I’m down 1200 and playing $2 DDB which has 5 prog meters on the top 5 jackpots. One of them reset on this hand:
Quad Aces, no kicker, for $1628
I held a lone ACE and drew 3. Most all jackpots are unexpected, but holding one is especially unexpected.
what a luckbox, said the know-it-all eejit sittin’ next to me playing penny slots.
a couple losing sessions later, I’m down 600 for the day and I take on food, a patty melt, at the cafe counter.
after that, I have a +400 session on $2 DDB thanks to 2222 of $801 and a regular quad for $500.
AAAA, no kicker, on $1 DDB is worth $800 and a +800 session and puts me zactly even for the day.
This is a lone machine in high limit that I play often. It has 4 suited RF prog meters.
Only the spades is over $6000. Used to be the spades AND hearts meters reset to $6250.
I
is getting a bit tired, and this lady with TWO comfort poodles is annoyin the shit out of me. I growled at her earlier in the day, so she
takes revenge by playing the machine next to me for the 2nd time today.
The dogs need a bath and so does she. One animal is in a stroller, poor thing, the other wanders around on a leash trying to trip people or find someone who thinks they are cute
and the whole circus blocks two aisles near my precious multis machine bank. I again cash out & move, not feeling confrontational. I’m playing 3 x $1 bonus.
Again - holding only one RF card, drawing four more for the $4000 Royal.
First Royal of the day and I call it a day after I get paid. It’s 7:45PM.
(see vpFree for photo)
I
somehow didn’t put the W-2G tax form in my pocket, I must have left it on a machine as I never found it. Slight concern that it might fall into nefarious hands - it has my name, address and soc sec number on it.
Note to self to be vigilant as I know there is a way for ID thieves to ‘take over’ your IRS tax refunds.
10 hrs play yesterday, 8 hrs today.
UP 3600 today, UP 2400 for the trip.
yay.
day 3
Up EARLY today, gaming at 8:15AM.
stayed UP 300 in my first hour on the multis.
Little excitement on the $2 DDB progs, after KKKK for $500,
I got dealt another $500 hand a dealt A-thru-5 Straight flush
not a biggie game-changer, but a pretty hand.
SFs are the low yield step-brothers of RFs.
followed
that UP 700 session with a bonus quad & a regular quad on $1 DD A & F for 400 & 250 and a +600 session. UP 1600 on the day just after 2 hrs.
1000 down and 900 up, a mini rollercoaster, and breakfast at the counter in the 24 hr cafe milano.
I had some cigars shipped to Peppermill as they were delayed from arriving at my house in time to pack them for my trip. Picked them up today, noon, at the Business Center in the Tuscany tower. A few people are kind enough to give me feedback in the casino: I’m told my cigars “stink”. Huh. I say (to myself) Just move on - it’s a big casino.
More
mini rollercoaster action…my UP sessions are thanx to my 2nd, 3rd & 4th $800 Bonus quads on the day and this tiny beauty for $1000: A quad Ace WITH kicker for 2000 50c credits.
Dinner
at Oceano. yoshi roll sushi plus entree of Bluefin Tuna which was excellent.
I
stayed in the black today until my very last session on $2 DDB when I dropped $1100. No quads, just 4 or 5 four-part Royals, two on the deal. Teasers. The RF on these resets to $10,000 and was at $10,500 or so.
So, I quit at 9:45PM. Royal-less.
10 hrs play, Down $400 for the day. Still Up $2000 for the trip.
MANY
times so far this trip I’ve thought to myself, in the middle of a session, that I’m so content I could play this particular game ALL DAY. It’s a pleasant thought.
Day 4
some say it’s May 29. I reckon that’s right, folks don’t exaggerate about the date.
But they SHORE DO exaggerate their gambling money status.
Heard often: How you doing?
answer, mumbled, “okay…”
meaning
they still have some small amount of money and they are hoping against the odds that they can make it last for the rest of their stay.
that’s what “okay” means.
note: it is Poor Form to ask someone how they are doing in a casino when that person is at an ATM.
also: my pal Pete noted the stock answer to How you doing? is “About even”.
This covers a wide range of losses.
gaming at 10:45 today.
on 10 x 25c deuces wild, I got dealt a Wild Royal for $312.50.
before noon, I’d switched to 5 x 50c BP.
Et voila: a nice Royal on one line for $2000.
I dropped $1100 of it on a quadless $2 DDB session.
A session on 25 line x 25c deuces netted two quad ducks, but down 800.
I head for negative territory playing $2 DDB again.
Overheard statement (prolly a cowboy)
" I’m thinkin’ four of them cherries will PAY for my truck."
Man & woman, navigating the (not crowded)main aisle:
She:
(naggingly scolding) “Why don’t you watch where you’re going? You make people go around you…” Milquetoast hubby: no response. He is as unaware of hher as he is other people. Good for him. Lost in his own world. Aren’t we all, somewhat?
UP 500 on a run at $2 DDB again. three quads for 500 each, one dealt.
Oceano early dinner 4:00-5:00 Yoshi roll sushi + fish & chips.
At
6:00 I hit a wild 2222 for 500. 10 x 50c deuces session = up 600. EVEN for the day. I take room break - casino is getting a bit crazy with
the after-work crowd. And I’m off-kilter. I have a rare headache. Will
try for a nap.
6 hrs gaming so far today.
It’s 11:11PM, I didn’t get a nap but feel rested and I’m gonna go play video poker for a couple hours.
EEes Cray-zee, no?
Won 400 on 5 x 50c DDB
Set
out for the $2 DDB. Was down 1000 and then hit a 3333. Which should have paid $825 but, to my ‘horror’, it
only paid $400. I’d been playing only 5 credits, I reckon it was 10 minutes that I’d been not playing 10
credits, only 5 credits, on this particular machine session. Still, that’s a bad sign. Like I’m tired to be so unaware.
Guy with a crazed face pounding the buttons on a penny slot five machines away from mine. For Five, ten, 15 minutes. SO angry. So much energy. Then he starts talking, “C’mon One time, ONE time, one TIME. One time, one time…” with each button slap.
then adding “one time in my LIFE. I NEVER hit nothin’ big.”
Scary.
Waitress still serving him another drink. He must’ve hit something 1/2 way decent, as he finally said “there, that’s a good one…” He cashed out, converted his ticket in the redemption machine, and made a pass at a pretty lady walking by. ALL better now.
I was $700
more into my game, heading toward my 2nd $1000 down, which would have tapped all my profit for the trip. NOT saying “One Time” out loud anyhow. Nor internally. But none-the-less,…
This ended up being my last hand of the night:
AT 1:11AM. I one-timed it. Held one Ace. One-carded it.
Quad Aces with the 3 kicker for $4291.
(photo on vpFree)
Niiice.
8 hrs play on the day. UP $2500 on the day.
UP 4500 for the trip so far.
===================
Day 5
2:00 start today. “Slept in”.
quick multi run. dropped 100.
the casino is crowded as it’s a 10X multiplier day for comps.
the
Oceano doors machines were all taken(!), so I settled onto an All-Star machine in high limit. It has many games, I chose triple play $1 coin Super Aces Bonus (“SAB”) 7/5 on the FH/Flush. Got this dealt hand: FOUR ACES. (see vpFree for photo)
$2000 times three.
I accepted the handpay of one $5000 bundle plus ten benjies.
You KNOW Aces pays well on a game called Super Aces Bonus.
Moved over to the $2 DDB progs, hit four $500 quads and then this:
Quad 4444 w/Ace kicker for $1743.
Decided that was enough excitement for 90 minutes of play, and am on a break in my suite.
UP $9100 for the day so far.
UP $13,600 for the trip. So far.
Yeow-za.
After my return at 5:00, I played 29 sessions, avg 15 minutes each.
Six were PLUS
Six were Even
Seventeen were losses. ugh!
Played til 1:30AM with one break for baguette pepperoni pizza dinner at the deli.
I
rarely eat cheese since I retired six years ago, so the big dose of mozzarella sent my tummy into a tailspin. Couple of Tums helped that.
Gave back an unsatisfying $7100. I’d almost forgotten what losing felt like.
It don’t feel good.
But, still UP 2000 on the day for 9 hrs play.
UP 6500 for the trip. Big wad still.
===========
Day 6
Saturday- forgettable!
The whole day was the shit-for-draws.
One tax form:
Quad 33332 for $1613.
on the $2 DDB.
otherwise, down 6300 in six hours of
NOTHIN! NOTHIN! NOTHIN!
I noted ony 9 jackpots of $200 or more on the day.
That’s not good. Not enough.
UP 200 for the trip. Ouch - that HURTS just to type it out.
==========
Day 7
I arose early, gaming in a near-empty casino at 7:20AM.
Highlights:
2222x on $2 DDB for $882.
on 10 line x 50c creds BP,
I got dealt 3333 for 5 x $100. (200 creds each line)
Here’s two handpays from today on the $2 DDB:
Quad AAAA for $1706
Quad AAAA for $1609
I
feel like I’m the only guy feeding the prog meters on this bank of 3 on
the ring of machines around (above) the cabaret bar. I rarely see anyone else playing video poker- my competition for machine time play 2c
keno. Go figure.
UP 1800 on the day to here.
Picking up the action Sunday at 4:45, I’m up 2000 for the trip.
A
few sessions in & down 400, I hit a slick JJJJ on $2 DDA&F for 800. But I manage to lose 500 on the long 45 min session.
I
return to my “roots” - the multi’s, where I play BP, Deuces and DDB first 10 x 25c, then 5 x 50c and then 3 line x $1 coin. I won back 500 when the dust settled.
UP 1600 for the trip to here.
Time
for some eats -room service style. I had a hankerin’ for chicken chow mein, but it ain’t on the room service menu. They have it at the cafe, but the casino & hotel & restaurants got crowded for some reason
- maybe conventioneers coming in. I saw a line of 100 peops at the front desk about
3:00. Ah well, spaghetti & meatballs will do.
I
also got a note under my door a couple days ago that room service was ready to deliver (another! ?) gift. I delayed calling for it til now, when I
came to my senses and that 2nd gift arrived just after my dinner. It was another liter of Baileys, 12 bottles of water & a cheese & fruit & crackers plate.
I gifted the food & water to the noisy guests in the room next door. Bunch of kids. They were surprised & grateful.
I’ll pack the 1 liter Baileys home in my checked bag.
well, 9:15 - back to “work”
A nice run on the $1 DDB w/suited RF progs in high limit netted me three $250 quads & a +$300 session.
Then right outside high limit is the $2 DDB.
I
start with a $500 ticket, hit a quad KKKK for $500 then quad 2222 without kicker for $816 and I cash out a $1700 ticket. I decide to hit cashier cage for the cashola.
Head to the multi’s and drop 300 on 10 x 25c BP.
I
convince meself to do a run on the 50-play x 25c that I play 25 hands on. down 400 on BP, down 400 on deuces and down 200 on DDB, where I hit one quad AAAA for 200. Unsatisfyingly short sessions.
Scurry across the aisle back to my multi’s, down 400 on 10x 50c BP,
down 600 on 3 x $1 BP. what the…?
I
head over to high limit for one of my newfound fave games: plain old aces & faces. Same 8/5 paytable as Bonus, only the bonus quads are Faces: JQK.
and AAAA of course. Which I hit, for $800, playing $2 coin A&F. I held AJ offsuit. In came three aces. Luckbox.
Ya
know, I’ve had a long day, so I decide that’s a good way to finish a generally good day.
11:15PM, 11 hrs play today UP $1300.
UP $1500 for the trip.
Checked
IN for flight at the computer station near bell desk. Sorta packed my luggage. I’m
hoping that take home 1 liter of Baileys doesn’t tip the scales over 50
lbs for my checked bag. Nah. I’ve packed light for this trip.
=================
Day 8
empty room at 9:20.
bags to bell, VIP checkout. I only had to pay the $7 gratuity for my one room service food.
gamin’ at 9:30
I enjoyed 9 full hours of gaming today, in a fairly empty casino.
I did a tour of all the machines I’ve played all week.
Jackpot highlights-
5 x 50c deuces, hit one 2222 for 500
$2 DDA&F hit bonus KKKK for 800
$2 DDB progs, 2222 for 804
$2 A&F - AAAA for 800
$2 DD A&F - 5555 for 500
at this point, I was down 2100 on the day,
which is 600 into my own initial bankroll.
I
decided to convert some of my over $2000 comp balance into freeplay, via an assistant host lady in
the VIP lounge - where we wanna-be pseudo high rollers like me check in to avoid the queue at the front desk.
I
turned $1000 comps into $500 freePlay. Approved by shift manager.
Played it out on $2 A&F for
the full $500 cash-in-pocket.
I continued on playing the same game:
highlights continued-
$2 A & F - AAAA for 800
took a food break at 4:30 at the cafe - & I GOT my pork & soft noodle chow mein. It was very good.
a
blind guy with a white-tipped cane (and a helper buddy) was behind me playing 25c slots in the no smoking area where I
play $1 Joker wild with a $5348 RF on the meter. I did not hit the RF, but I enjoy JW. Did the blind guy win anything? I don’t think either of us knows for sure.
$2 DDB progs - TTTT for 500
- AAAA (no kicker) for 1612
$2 DDA&F - dealt 4444 for 500
- 5555 for 500
- KKKK for 800 (JQKA are bonus quads and kickers)
$2 A&F - AAAA for 800
$2 DDB progs - TTTT for 500
This last quad put me UP 400 for the day and was my last hand at 7:30PM.
This was a rush of a day, I played mostly $1 and $2 as you can see, plus I played fast. I play fast all the time, but today I really pushed it. The quads kept coming and I had a fun day.
My
peak profit was UP $13,900 halfway into day 5. I pissed away all but 200 of that the rest of day 5 and day 6, so I was happy to bring home profit at the end of the trip. I
only dipped into my own bankroll on days 1,2 & half of day 8, so days 3-thru-7 and half of day 8 I was playing with profits. Which makes for extra comfort.
Of
course, as is my now standard disclaimer, I had a slight loss on the trip when I account for all my non-carded poker and table game play. Mostly pai-gow.
You know, for tax purposes.
to bell desk at 7:30. Bag weighed in at 39 LBs. excellent.
taxi to airport at 7:45 - fast driver.
Got thru TSA checkpoint charlie speedily - hardly any other travelers, and got to the gate at 8:20.
easy flight and airport pickup ride was on-time
===============
Here’s the trip stats.
8 days, 70 hrs gaming.
11 tax forms, 4 royals
158 jackpots of $200 or more
34 x 200
41 x 250
12 x 400
38 x 500
1 x 625
17 x 800
2 x 1000
6 x 1600
5 x 2000
2 x 4000
thanks for reading my long saga.
~MARK my words
).