May 12, 13, 14.
First stop.
I can confirm 2 quarter Pick'Ems still by Men's room.
The database mentions a bank of 12 machines by the poker corral. The info
is correct, except I couldn't find the two Multi-strike machines mentioned.
I never found NSUD or 9/6 JoB in nickel or dime anywhere in the casino and
after I asked a slot staffer for nickel and dime and he pointed me towards a
bank of low-pay JoBs in another part of the casino.
Cashback/Comp level is correct on database.
···
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ATLANTIS
JW
The (2) 5/10 JW (100.6%) Spinpokers listed in the Terrace Bar have a
paytable that says 500 RF/4000 5OK/500 WRF. I triple checked this part. I
believe the rest of the table was 250/80/40/25/15/10/5/5. If this is true,
Frugal Poker puts the payoff at 103.02%, which can't be right, can it?
NSUD
Database says (2) 5c/10c Multi-Strike in Terrace Bar. I also found at least
one non-Multi-Strike close to the casino side of the Terrace Bar.
Database says (3) 25c Progressives "near a bunch of mirrors close Caf�
Alfresco". Correction would be that there are eight of them, one of which
is much louder than the others. I'd more specifically describe their
location as "against the wall between Caf� Alfredo and the Keno Lounge."
The highest progressive was $1083 while I was there. The progressive is
attractive, but the machines are packed in there, and it's crowded and
smoky. Also, the machines are multi-game and one of the games is a loud
penny slot machine which seems to be more popular than VP. So if you can
take the smoke and booming music of a penny slot, then play away!
The 25c Sports Book Bar NSUD were there, but I can't remember if they were
progressive. They probably were.
9/6 JoB
The 50 play and 100 play remain at the bottom of the escalator.
The (4) $1 4700RF machines are in the same place as the database says. The
machines are old but clearly state the 4700.
Craps: Atlantis had a popular $2 3x/4x/5x table that had helpful dealers.
They mentioned to me that it usually stayed at a $2 level except in
extremely crowded circumstances.
Hotel:
I stayed here two nights on a postcard rate ($39/free). When I called, they
were of course sold out, but I could upgrade to the Dolphin Tower for $20
per night. The Dolphin Tower is described in flowery language, but I didn't
see the great appeal, having never seen the rooms before they re-did them.
After politely asking for a room on an upper floor away from the elevators,
I was given a room way, way up on the third floor, but at least it was at
the end of the hall. My spectacular 3rd floor view was of the vacant lot
next door. Because a trainee checked me in, he gave me bad information on
whether I could use the fitness center or not (only if I paid $8), but he
also forgot to have me sign the upgrade stamp which meant that upon
checkout, I successfully challenged my rate and ended up paying the 39/free
rate instead of the 59/20 rate. I thought this was fair for a 3rd floor
room.
Check in around 4 pm on a Wednesday took longer than it should have. The
VIP guy was all alone waiting to help. Maybe next time.
As stated in the Database, the Terrace Bar really is something special.
Quiet, clean, light and airy, and a good place to clean out your lungs from
the smoke downstairs. The smells from the restaurant were delicious without
any seafood smell that I was afraid of. I went up there from time to time
to recover from the NSUD progressive area which was crowded, smoky, and
loud.
After maybe three hours of quarter VP Wednesday night, I was surprised to be
comped a breakfast buffet the next morning. This was my first ever comp, by
the way. The boothlings were nice, but just didn't give out any
information. I stopped by a couple more times during my stay, but was never
told "how close" I was to any sort of comp, just that "they were sorry but
they couldn't give me anything at this time". I agree with other comments
on the database: the practical guy in me can't handle not knowing where I
stand. I don't like that the players card simply says "welcome" when
inserted. I like the countdown and the points display. So, when comparing
Atlantis to Silver Legacy, I thought the hotel room at Atlantis was bigger
and better, but the casino floor at Atlantis is so helter skelter and hard
to maneuver around, and the comp situation is so secretive, that I feel much
more comfortable at Silver Legacy.
The buffet is huge and amazing. I "toured" at dinner time and couldn't
believe the selection. I ate there for breakfast and it was delicious. I
also ate at the Parrot coffee shop twice and was impressed with its quality
as well.
-----
SILVER LEGACY
FPDW Progressives
Quarters. (8) in one bank remain by the Ladies bathroom near the Pai
Gow/Craps table. A second bank of (6) was just a few steps away. The bank
of (8) progressive was at $1081 which I chased for the better part of a day.
The bank of (6) progressives had been recently hit and was at $1004 or so.
There was plenty of room to spread out here. Drink service was extremely
friendly and quick, the games were not crowded. I loved it here. However,
as a single guy, there is a bit of an element of stalkerness as I was
situated outside the women's bathroom for about six hours. The progressives
on these machines barely budged. They were also the fasted dealing machines
I've ever seen, with no "turbo" button to deselect. I had to slow myself
down every once in a while. Also, these machines are on the loud side. I
like to hear when I hit it big, so that didn't bother me. Plus you can
quietly laugh at the people behind you playing Wheel of Fortune and "just
missing" the big payoff.
FPJW
8 older slant top machines remain next to the Keno Lounge.
Blackjack had several $5 tables with double deck, next to $5 tables with six
decks, next to $5 tables with continuous shuffling machines. The rules
appeared to be the same with each of them. They had a $15 chip for $10
buy-in promo going on. The dealers were friendly and talkative at the
double-deck table.
Craps was $5 minimum.
Comps:
$20 coin in got you one club point, as the database says.
I'm not sure how you compute comp meals, but here's what I know:
At 27 points, the boothling said I had $7 meal comp, but wasn't given
anything.
Later in the day, I was given a $10 food comp and 75 points was taken off my
total.
The next day, when I had 87 more points, I was offered a $15 or $20 food
comp, but just took a $10. At the time I left, the points for this comp had
not been subtracted yet.
And yes, I keep detailed records. I can't help myself.
Both my meals at the coffee shop were delicious and relaxing.
Casino:
I really like it here. I am comfortable. I like the layout of the VP
machines and the tables. I really like the FPDW Progressive, of course. I
like that the machines weren't crowded. There was plenty of space between
them. Smoking is permitted, but with all the extra space it isn't as
oppressive as Atlantis. I like knowing what my point totals are. I thought
the coffee shop food was excellent. I liked the club booth, although the
line wasn't short with all the bowlers in town. I was amazed at the drink
service at a lowly quarter VP Machine. At many casinos, it's clear that the
VP waitress has drawn the short straw for that day, which is reflected in
her attitude. Compare the smiles of the waitress at the Craps table with
the smiles at the VP machine at any given casino. Also, as a gender
equality person, I was surprised to see so many men delivering drinks at
Silver Legacy. I must say, however, that the drink glasses are much bigger
at the tables, than they are at the machines, even at Silver Legacy. After
pointing this out and tipping a buck, all my remaining drinks were served in
a bigger glass.
-----
ELDORADO
All the Loose Deuce (100.1%) Game Kings have been downgraded to NSUD. I
checked both banks by the Brew Brothers (14) and La Strada (7). In fact,
there were only a handful by La Strada now, having been replaced by video
slots. I agree with the database that this is a pleasant place to play with
restrooms close and its relative quietness.
Eldorado had a $3 Craps table.
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CIRCUS CIRCUS
I happened to park in their garage and on the way in saw sign after sign
heralding that they have the most $1 single deck blackjack tables in town.
After being in Vegas recently and watching as casino after casino switches
to 6 to 5 Blackjack payouts, I wanted to see just what kind of rules there
were on $1 single deck. The blackjack area was crowded on a Thursday
afternoon and the single deck $1 table was full. When I looked at the
minimum sign, I was amazed to see a list of rules that rivaled the Magna
Carta in terms of wordage. What I can remember was:
--Cards dealt face up
--double down only ten or eleven
--split once
--dealer hits soft 17
--and, stop the presses, DEALER WINS ALL PUSHES, except blackjack. Maybe
the mathematicians can get on this, but I'd like to know what the house edge
is on this game. But, like I said, the game had no empty seats.
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FITZGERALD'S
In a good location. But basically a nightmare if you don't like crowds.
Bus after bus of retirees would disembark and then immediately head to the
player's club booth. The line was ten deep to signup. I enjoy low-stakes
gambling that is a bit seedy, as much as the next guy. One of my favorite
places in Vegas is Slots O Fun. But I believe I've crossed Fitz off my list
while in Reno. Maybe I've finally developed standards after all these
years.
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All in all it was a great trip. It was relaxing, I didn't lose too much
money, and it was only a four hour drive from San Jose. I'll be back.
Michael Cummins.
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