Here's a report from a "Calif. flyer".
1. The HOTEL SHUTTLES were very handy, but make sure to TIP drivers $1 each ride. (The $4 total spent round trip to get from GSR to airport to downtown was well worth it, and you'll get some interesting stories along the way, as you get to know the 'regular' drivers).
2. GSR: Basically a 9/6 JB heaven, at all denom. from .10c up to the high limits. I'm a fan of 3/5 plays; sometimes I wish I weren't as the drain much more than on single lines.
2A: DREAMCARD machines - I only found two, and probably WON'T play them again. One machine near WHEEL Spins (between Sportsbar area and slot club. 2nd machine is in central area, just out past the main entrance lobby (with the horse statue).
Both had .10-.25-$1 3/5 play games on them.
ALSO (like ULTIMATE "X", which I think is better game for the price you're paying), TAKES 10 COINS PER LINE on a 5-coin paytable.
(to pay for the bonuses.) My LUCK WAS SUCH (SUCKED) that I finally did get 4 cd RF, only NOT to have the "Dream" option activate.
(50% chance in JB; 46% in Bonus Pkr, per the 'help' notes).
Wheel Poker a little better (like Super Times Pay), costing 6 coins per line, but the bonuses fairly decent.
FYI: Those that like Joker Poker, might want to play their 18-7-5, 4700 games (in 3/5 plays only, that I saw).
Single Line PROGS were ok.
Someone hit a nice $1700++ on ugly 2s (15-9).
Same bank that has a different prog. for each .25 game in JB, 17-7 Jkr, and ugly 2s.
NICKEL Prog: 8 or 10 slanttops just past slot club area and near the slot tournament machines have 9/6 DDB with progs on bonus 4Ks and higher. It seems that the resets were $50 each for 4-(2-4s with kickers Aces w/o kicker) instead of $40??
Progs. on Aces + kicker often over $110, and Royal over $300 once.
DOWNTOWN:
I like the Cal-Nev. DB prog games. Only for 10-coin nickels, but when you're 'losing', it's a lower losing rate than .25c vp games...
Harrah's : same-o, same-o. Drain not as bad for me this trip, but I still lost on 9/6 JB and BP. I actually did better in 'dimes' level (same machines), at $1/hand, 7-5 BPoker, bec. I hit more quads in that game than on .25c level.
POKER: After taking a look at ALL the main rooms downtown (SL, Eldo, Harrahs, Cal-Nev, and Circus), while Cal-Neva had 4k and higher hand bonuses and promos, I enjoyed Circus-Circus the MOST!
1. DAILY 1 hour tournaments for $18 + $3 (1000 or 1300 in chips, with blinds beginning at 25/50, dbl-g every 15 min.).
The 'bonus' is that if you play in LIVE games afterward, there are 4 dwgs. for tournament players only! ($25 each, and if a no-show is called, the next dwg goes up $25). Usually 18-35 players (3 tables max at 12-handed tournament tables).
Live games: 2-6 spread limit (like in Laughlin), and 2-4.
NL games at Eldorado and SL more common.
Circus-Circus also has high hand bonuses, a small bad beat, and an interesting 'Seven-Deuce' wheel.
4Ks made with pocket pair in your hand worth $40-60.
SFs worth $75++?
Royals worth $200++
And yes - win with any flop, holding a 'seven-deuce' in your hand and you could win:
25% (2 of 8 slots) = 'Zonk-o' or no bonus.
25% (2 of 8 slots) = $25
12.5% chance (1 of 8 slots) = $50
25% (2 of 8 slots) = one free buffet
12.5% chance (1 of 8 slots) = $20 dining credit in their restaurants.
I didn't ever win with that hand, but makes it fun to try.
$1/Hourly approx. added to your club card acct., approx by 2 pm next day.
I enjoyed this room the most; friendly staff and players, generally, and only 'cursing' occurred in tournament hands.
Too bad most of their (10 am) players don't stay for dwgs;
That am. dwg always was at least $50 every time I played.
The 4 pm tourney also has similar format; and different dwg amt?
I never got to try it, as it is not played on holidays (V-day, and Pres. day).
SLegacy - BTW - uses those new 'computerized' dealer tables made by Poker Tek. I've only used them once before (Valley View casino),
and haven't seen them anywhere else (Excalibur supposedly has them).
VP : SL - BTW - has the best near 100% games left amongst those 3 connected casinos. Lots of 9/5 JB, in addition to 9/6 JB on higher denoms (or in their 50-100 plays, 4 near VIP area, and only 2 other ones that I saw). Nickels-dimes-quarter.
Keno area Jokers may have been an oversight; Other Joker poker games upstairs are shorter pay.
Eldorado didn't have much at all for .25 and under players;
CIRCUS has JB at .25 and above.
Those same 'multi-denom./multi-games' are KENO/4 card Keno only for nickels and dimes levels.
Some 9/5 JB in the 50-100 play machines (only 1 of each machine).
BE CAREFUL ($1) players:
A bank of 4 'Aces-Eights' with prog exists in older coin slots area;
However, the quad Aces/Eights prog. starts at $125 instead of $250!
There is also a Prog. on Royal and Sequential RF, though.
Too bad the bonus quad 8s/As are SHORTED!
VP is a strict .33% freeplay, Slots .5%
(7.50 and 5.00 per pt, and 40 pts per $1 in freeplay + unknown comp rate.). I also earned comps from live poker, so I didn't track the vp comp rate as well as I should of.
Other than the 'Nugget' (reminded me of Westward HO or Slots a Fun, although casino MUCH smaller, but snackbar was ok), downtown is dying.
I mean - take out Harrahs' Cal-Neva, and the big 3, and only the Sands and Siena (soon to go?) are left. I hadn't realized that FITZ and Virginian were closed!
Well - I had a nice little trip, but would probably rent a car next time to enjoy S. Lake Tahoe....
Martin.